Fig. 2.

Theoretically predicted and experimentally observed droplet–membrane wetting morphologies. (A) Contact line geometry for membrane nanotubes and buds. (B) The morphology diagram predicts three distinct wetting regimes as sketched. (C–E) In vitro validation of model predictions using vacuole-sized vesicles (green) enclosing polymer liquids $\alpha$ (unlabeled) and $\beta$ (magenta). (C) Low contact angle ${\theta }_{\mathrm{in}}$ and interfacial tension ${\Sigma }_{\alpha \beta }$ produce regime III. (Left) Confocal section orthogonal to Center and Right panels, as indicated. (D) High ${\theta }_{\mathrm{in}}$ and ${\Sigma }_{\alpha \beta }$ generate regime II. (E) Time series of a transition from regime III to II observed upon hyperosmotic stress, increasing ${\theta }_{\mathrm{in}}$ and ${\Sigma }_{\alpha \beta }$. Arrowheads, visible nanotube network. Confocal microscopy. Rotational symmetry axes are indicated. (Scale bars: 5 µm.)