Nanomedicine, Vol. IIA: Biocompatibility

Rating:
Summary: A timely contribution to nanotechnology literature.
Review: Once again Robert A. Freitas, Jr. has turned out a remarkable volume of information (similar to Nanomedicine Volume 1). It is probably useful to have read Nanomedicine Volume 1 before reading Volume IIA, but Volume IIA can be read on its own particularly if one has a biological or medical education. Its emphasis is on whether we can expect nanotechnology based devices to be able to operate within the human body but it also deals with whether or not certain aspects of nanotechnology might be dangerous to biological life in general. I thought the aspects of the book that identified the areas where we lack knowledge at this time to be particularly useful. They pointed out topics that still need to be researched. The book is excellent in suggesting solutions for problems we can anticipate at this time in the area of biocompatibility.

This work is particularly timely because groups such as the ETC Group and Greenpeace have recently released reports that might reflect negatively on nanotechnology. This book provides a partial basis for informed debate on the risks vs. the benefits of nanotechnology. Since medical applications of nanotechnology may save 10's of millions of lives annually -- arguing against it requires very strong arguments. Anyone who has not read this book and attempts to criticize the development of nanotechnology for biological applications can probably be considered poorly informed.

The only criticism that I might list is that the publication may have been somewhat accelerated, perhaps in response to rising criticisms by luddites with respect to nanotechnology, and as a result very interesting information that was intended to be in Volume II, may only appear in Volume IIB. (So I'd perhaps only give the work 4.5 stars due to disappointment over not having more information included -- though if IIA and what I anticipate will be in IIB were combined it would be a very large book).

Disclaimer: My reading of this volume was in a pre-press version.

Rating:
Summary: A timely contribution to nanotechnology literature.
Review: Once again Robert A. Freitas, Jr. has turned out a remarkable volume of information (similar to Nanomedicine Volume 1). It is probably useful to have read Nanomedicine Volume 1 before reading Volume IIA, but Volume IIA can be read on its own particularly if one has a biological or medical education. Its emphasis is on whether we can expect nanotechnology based devices to be able to operate within the human body but it also deals with whether or not certain aspects of nanotechnology might be dangerous to biological life in general. I thought the aspects of the book that identified the areas where we lack knowledge at this time to be particularly useful. They pointed out topics that still need to be researched. The book is excellent in suggesting solutions for problems we can anticipate at this time in the area of biocompatibility.

This work is particularly timely because groups such as the ETC Group and Greenpeace have recently released reports that might reflect negatively on nanotechnology. This book provides a partial basis for informed debate on the risks vs. the benefits of nanotechnology. Since medical applications of nanotechnology may save 10's of millions of lives annually -- arguing against it requires very strong arguments. Anyone who has not read this book and attempts to criticize the development of nanotechnology for biological applications can probably be considered poorly informed.

The only criticism that I might list is that the publication may have been somewhat accelerated, perhaps in response to rising criticisms by luddites with respect to nanotechnology, and as a result very interesting information that was intended to be in Volume II, may only appear in Volume IIB. (So I'd perhaps only give the work 4.5 stars due to disappointment over not having more information included -- though if IIA and what I anticipate will be in IIB were combined it would be a very large book).

Disclaimer: My reading of this volume was in a pre-press version.