- #1
donkeyhide
- 10
- 0
hi, I'm new here. i was hoping someone could answer my question about the immune system.
you hear talk sometimes about the possibility of medical nanobots on the horizon. if such nanoscale medical robots were ever to be developed, would the body attack them? i know that the immune system recognizes foreign invaders by their protein coat and/or lipid shell. and I've seen talk about the possibility of these hypothetical medical bots posessing an 'inert surface' as a way past the defensive lines. or that, possibly they could practice biomimicy, and be coated themselves with a protein that the body recognizes, thereby preventing attack by B-cells.
but what constitutes an 'inert surface' as far the immune system is concerned? just metal or a carbon composite? people get implants, after all, and the body doesn't seem to attack artificial hips or cochlear devices.
so. does the immune system recognize tiny little bots as invaders? if so, why and how? and what would happen to them? what might be some strategies be for protecting the bots? and finally, if a protein coat is the answer, what type of coat would be universally accepted by all human bodies?
thanks!
you hear talk sometimes about the possibility of medical nanobots on the horizon. if such nanoscale medical robots were ever to be developed, would the body attack them? i know that the immune system recognizes foreign invaders by their protein coat and/or lipid shell. and I've seen talk about the possibility of these hypothetical medical bots posessing an 'inert surface' as a way past the defensive lines. or that, possibly they could practice biomimicy, and be coated themselves with a protein that the body recognizes, thereby preventing attack by B-cells.
but what constitutes an 'inert surface' as far the immune system is concerned? just metal or a carbon composite? people get implants, after all, and the body doesn't seem to attack artificial hips or cochlear devices.
so. does the immune system recognize tiny little bots as invaders? if so, why and how? and what would happen to them? what might be some strategies be for protecting the bots? and finally, if a protein coat is the answer, what type of coat would be universally accepted by all human bodies?
thanks!