Histograms of the M-m ratio for different concentrations of PEG lipid micelles.

<p>(a) 0 <i>μ</i>M, (b) 2.58 <i>μ</i>M, (c) 5.16 <i>μ</i>M, (d) 10.32 <i>μ</i>M, (e) 20.63 <i>μ</i>M, (f) 41.25 <i>μ</i>M, (g) 82.5 <i>μ</i>M, and (h) 165 <i>μ</i>M. Characteristic peaks were indicated as arrows.</p

Temporal changes of the mean and variance of the M-m ratio.

<p>Temporal changes of the mean and variance of the M-m ratio.</p

Histograms of the M-m ratio for different concentrations of PEG lipid micelles.

<p>(a) 0 <i>μ</i>M, (b) 2.58 <i>μ</i>M, (c) 5.16 <i>μ</i>M, (d) 10.32 <i>μ</i>M, (e) 20.63 <i>μ</i>M, (f) 41.25 <i>μ</i>M, (g) 82.5 <i>μ</i>M, and (h) 165 <i>μ</i>M. Characteristic peaks were indicated as arrows.</p

A schematic for vesicle image analysis.

<p>Vesicles are reacted with PEG lipid micelles to induce shape transformations and images are taken by a confocal microscope. Each vesicle image was binarized separately and approximated with an ellipsoid to measure the lengths of major and minor axes.</p

Reconstructed 3D images of a transforming lipid vesicle.

<p>(a) immediately after the addition of PEG lipid micelles, (b) after 2 min, (c) after 4 min (d) after 8 min. Numbers below images indicate the reduced volume <i>v</i>. The concentration of PEG lipid was 2.58 <i>μ</i>M.</p

A shape transformation of lipid vesicle induced by PEG lipid micelles.

<p>(a) A spherical vesicle transformed into (b) a disc-like oblate, (c) cylindrical prolate, and eventually divided into (d) two large and small vesicles.</p