© 1999 Robert A. Freitas Jr. All Rights Reserved.

Robert A. Freitas Jr., Nanomedicine, Volume I: Basic Capabilities, Landes Bioscience, Georgetown, TX, 1999

8.5 Cytonavigation

Cytonavigation is the study of navigation in and around the individual cell. The topic is large and the present work can only scratch the surface. After a brief cytometric overview (Section 8.5.1), the discussion here addresses four important issues -- distinguishing whether an encountered cell is self or nonself (Section 8.5.2.1), determining the exact cell type of an encountered cell (Section 8.5.2.2), the significant features and landmarks inside living cells, called cytography (Section 8.5.3), and special considerations involved in navigating the cellular nucleus, called nucleography (Section 8.5.4). Issues relating to membrane penetration and cell entry by medical nanorobots are largely deferred to Section 9.4.5.

Last updated on 20 February 2003