Electrostatic self-energy of a partially formed spherical shell in salt solution: Application to stability of tethered and fluid shells as models for viruses and vesicles

Abstract

We investigate the electrostatics of a partially formed, charged spherical shell in a salt solution. We solve the problem numerically at the Poisson-Boltzmann level and analytically in the Debye-Hückel regime. From the results on energetics of partially formed shells we examine the stability of tethered (crystalline) and fluid shells toward rupture. We delineate different regimes of stability, where, for fluid shells, we also include the effects of bending elasticity of the shells. Our analysis shows how charging of the shell induces its instability toward rupture but also provides insight regarding growth of charged shells.