Elastic, electrostatic and electrokinetic forces influencing membrane curvature

► We evaluate how electrostatic/electrokinetic forces contribute to membrane curvature. ► The physics was evaluated using a coupled system of elastic equations and electrostatic/electrokinetic equations. ► Two forces bend the membrane - Coulomb force and the dielectric force. ► The membrane always bends toward the surface with fixed charges. ► The electrostatic/electrokinetic forces contribute significantly to the membrane curvature.