Which property of lipid bilayers allows self-healing of membranes?
Self sealing of membranes is a spontaneous thermodynamic process driven by amphipathic design and the hydrophobic effect. Each phospholipid carries polar phosphate head that hydrogen bonds with water and two nonpolar tails that release ordered water clathrates when aggregated gaining entropy. Edge exposure where tails contact water creates high line tension ten to twenty piconewtons so minimizing edge length is energetically favored. Small holes close via lateral diffusion of lipids at rates near micrometer squared per second without ATP while larger wounds recruit ESCRT III CHMP4B and annexin
Ref: Tanford C., The Hydrophobic Effect, Wiley. Alberts et al., MBOC 7th ed., Chapter 10: Self-assembly of bilayers.
