Steric Interaction of Fluid Membranes in Multilayer Systems

The out-of-plane fluctuations of fluid membranes are sterically hindered in multilayer systems. The repulsive interaction associated with the steric or excluded-volume effect is studied theoretically by two methods. The interaction energy per unit area of membrane is derived as a function of temperature, membrane curvature elasticity and mean membrane spacing; it is inversely proportional to the square of the latter. Steric repulsion is estimated for lecithin bilayers in water. There and in other cases, it may compete with van der Waals attraction.