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

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

15.5.5 Mechanocompatibility with Nontissue Cells

The mechanical compatibility of medical nanorobots with nontissue cells, the most numerous cells in the human body, is also of great importance. It has already been estimated (Section 9.4.2.6) that the maximum nanorobotic-induced cell damage rate consistent with human health is ~0.3 damaged cells/nanorobot-day for RBCs, ~0.2 damaged cells/nanorobot-day for platelets, and ~0.03-0.2 damaged cells/nanorobot-day for WBCs – assuming a 1-terabot bloodstream dose of medical nanorobots each measuring 2 microns in diameter. This Section briefly describes several possible mechanical interactions between nanorobots and each of the three largest classes of nontissue cells – red blood cells, RBCs, or erythrocytes (Section 15.5.5.1), platelets (Section 15.5.5.2), and white blood cells, WBCs, or leukocytes (Section 15.5.5.3). Our discussion of nanorobot mechanical interactions with glycocalyx and intracellular components common to most or all human cells is deferred to Section 15.5.7.

Last updated on 30 April 2004