ELECTROSTATIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN A CHARGED SPHERE AND AN OPPOSITELY CHARGED, DEFORMABLE INTERFACE

Boundary integral methods are used to calculate the electrostatic interactions between a charged sphere and an oppositely charged fluid/fluid interface. Assuming the dominance of electrostatic, interfacial tension, and gravitational forces, we determine the shape of the deformable interface by satisfying the normal component of the interfacial stress balance. Using this computational approach, we evaluate the effect of sphere position, interfacial tension, and interfacial charge density on the interfacial shape. Finally, the relevance of these calculations to a proposed solubilization mechanism for the reversed micellar incorporation of proteins is discussed. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.