© 2003 Robert A. Freitas Jr. All Rights Reserved.

Robert A. Freitas Jr., Nanomedicine, Volume IIA: Biocompatibility, Landes Bioscience, Georgetown, TX, 2003

15.5.3.5 Reduction of Vascular Permeability by Nanoaggregates

A nanorobotic aggregate covering a macroscale area of the capillary luminal surface [4609] most importantly could reduce the normal flow of plasma water [3963] and other substances that leave the circulation via ultrafiltration. The plasma water flow helps to remove waste products from the extracellular spaces around tissue cells. This function could be compromised by the shielding presence of the nanoaggregate unless the aggregate replaces this flow with water transported through or around the device, by various means (Section 4.2 in [4609]). Many vasoactive substances (Table 7.2) might need similar remedial transport, whether by discharge from preexisting onboard storage, by absorption and banking from the bloodstream (e.g., NO concentration typically ~3.4 + 2.1 µM or ~10^-7 gm/cm³ in the blood of healthy nonpregnant women, measured indirectly as nitrite [5600]) with metered passthrough to the underlying vascular surface, or by other means.

Nanorobotic aggregates may also be required to exhibit pulsatile movements to replace the peristaltic movements which transport lymph, if these mechanical movements have become attenuated due to the presence of the nanoaggregate.

Last updated on 30 April 2004