Deeya Das, Katherine Hermann, Meagan Rodriguez

Optimization Project
Optimization of Surface Area and Volume in Red Blood Cells
All organisms are composed of thousands of cells. They carry out a multitude of
functions which allow all organisms to carry out the functions of life. Cells can grow to a size of
up to one hundred micrometers. They maintain such a small size in order to maintain their
surface area to volume ratio. A cells volume determines its rate of metabolism since all
organelles which control metabolism are housed within the cells membrane in the cytoplasm.
Metabolism entails synthesizing and breaking down compounds, which in turn can cause heat
and waste production. The rate of exchange in a cell is determined by its surface area since all
material exchange occurs via the cell membrane. Cells need to exchange materials such as
organic compounds, genetic material, essential nutrients, and wastes in order to maintain a
living, functioning organism. Typically, wastes are excreted while organic matter and essential
nutrients are taken in.
As a cell grows in size, its surface area increases in units squared, whereas its volume
increases in units cubed. This causes an imbalance between metabolism and rate of exchange
since the cell is undergoing metabolism at a faster rate than it is exchanging materials. Not only
would this lead to the cell not having enough resources to carry out its functions, but it would
also cause toxic wastes to build up, leading to cell death. Therefore, cells cannot continue to
increase their volume as they grow since otherwise their rate of exchange will not be able to
match their rate of metabolism. In order to prevent this imbalance, cells divide. This reduces the
volume, thereby increasing the surface area to volume ratio.
Red blood cells have a particularly large surface area to volume ratio due to their
biconcave structure. In this study, volume was minimized and surface area was maximized in
order to find the optimal radius and height for red blood cells so that they can reach maximum
efficiency. Scientists are still trying to develop a mathematical standard with which to calculate
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the volume and surface area of a red blood cell (specifically a biconcave disk), so for the
purposes of this study, the shape of a red blood cell is approximated to a cylinder. In order to
maximize surface area, the average volume of a red blood cell was found (92.8 femtoliters).
This value was then converted to micrometers and was found to be 92.8 m3. The following
calculations were then carried out where r is radius and h is height:

V = r 2 h=92.8 m 3
h=

92.8
r 2

The expression found for height was then substituted into the equation for the surface area (SA)
of a cylinder:

SA=2 rh+2 r 2
SA=2 r

92.8
+2 r 2
2
r

( )

185.6
2
+2 r , r >0
r

The derivative of SA was then taken and set to be equal to zero in order to find the critical
values of r.
'

S A =4 r

185.6
=0
r2

185.6
=4 r
r2
r=5.26 m

This value of r can then be substituted into the expression found for h to yield 5.62 m.
Likewise, when both these values are substituted into the volume equation, it can be seen that
in order to achieve the maximum surface area (359.6 m2), the volume must be 488 m3.
In order to minimize volume, the maximum surface area previously found was set equal
to the equation of surface area in a cylinder. The following calculations were then carried out:

SA=2 rh+2 r 2=359.6 m2

rh+r 2=

359.6
2

r ( h+r )=

h+r =

h=

359.6
2

359.6
2 r

359.6
r
2 r

The expression for height was then substituted into the equation for volume (V) of a cylinder:

V = r 2 h
V = r 2 (

359.6
r )
2 r

136 r
r 3=179.8 r r 3
2

The derivative of V was then taken and set to be equal to zero in order to find the critical values
of r.
'

V =179.83 r =0
2

3 r =179.8

r= 13.7 m
Since r cannot be a negative value, it can be assumed that the radius is therefore equal to 13.7
m. This value of r can then be substituted into the expression found for h to yield 9.52 m.
Likewise, when both these values are substituted into the surface area equation, it can be seen
that in order to achieve the minimum volume (5610 m3) the surface area must be 759 m2.