The　biomechanical　behavior　of　a　red　blood　cell　(RBC)　is　investigated　by　nanoindentation　technique　and　finite　element　method.　A　nanoindentation　experiment　is　carried　out　to　obtain　Young＇s　modulus,　hardness　and　load-displacement　curve　of　the　RBC,　and　a　3D　finite　element　model　is　built　to　simulate　the　nanoindentation　experiment　process.　The　effect　of　curvature　radius　of　the　indenter　tip　and　friction　coefficient　between　the　indenter　and　cell　is　considered.　The　FE　results　are　agreement　with　the　experimental　data　for　nanoindentation　of　RBC.　It　is　shown　that　the　mechanical　parameters　of　RBC　can　be　precisely　determined　by　the　present　approach,　which　contributes　to　understanding　of　biomechanical　behavior　of　RBC.　The　deformation　of　RBC　is　obviously　influenced　by　the　curvature　radius　of　the　tip　but　slightly　by　the　friction　coefficient　between　the　indenter　and　the　cell.　©　2011　IEEE.