X-Message-Number: 21142
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 13:20:01 +0100
From: Henri Kluytmans <>
Subject: MNT replacements for biological systems

Thomas Donaldson wrote :

>In my final (?) message on these questions I point out that living
>systems presently provided the ONLY WORKING EXAMPLE we have of 
>complete nanosystems. 

I won't argue with that.

And before the Wright brothers flew their airplane, biological living 
animals where the only working examples of flying things heavier
than air.

>They should be regarded not with indifference but as examples of 
>the successes and problems for nanosize design.

I just wanted it to make it clear, that using different building blocks, 
different chemical reactions, and different architectures, (i.e. MNT) 
it looks like much better performing systems can be made. 

>I am surprized that you haven't even looked up in any biochemistry
>book the kind of bonds which tie enzymes or other living nanomachines

Which important facts did I overlook ?


>do Freitas's versions self-reproduce? How are they made?. 

It is proposed that medical MNT based nano-devices should not 
self-reproduce inside the human body, they should be produced 
outside the body.  (They will not be able to self-reproduce 
themselves because this would only add unnecessary complexity.)

>I would say the same for devices which transport oxygen and remove 
>CO2. And don't come back at me saying that the other functions of 
>red blood cells would no longer be needed: 

Maybe I was not very clear about this, but the respirocytes are 
are only meant to be used as a temporary replacement or as 
temporary performance augmentation, mostly for therapeutic uses.

(Hmm, I was, kind of, assuming that everybody would have read the 
article Freitas wrote. It seems that at least James Swayze has 
read the article...)

However, because the artificial respirocytes would be 236 times 
more efficient in delivering oxygen to the tissues per unit volume 
than natural red cells, that would leave plenty of room for 
MNT based replacements for the other functions of the red cells

------

>unless you give me the complete metabolism of the entire system 
>you want to build with your diamandoid nanosystems then you 

A more complete exploratory design for a replacement of the human 
blood transport system is available... :)

Freitas worked out a "small" :) article, and I hope you will read it : 

"Vasculoid: A Personal Nanomedical Appliance to Replace Human Blood".

See :  http://www.transhumanist.com/volume11/vasculoid.html

Cheers,
>Hkl

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