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Body area nanonetworks with molecular communications in nanomedicine

Recent developments in nano and biotechnology enable promising therapeutic nanomachines (NMs) that operate on inter- or intracellular area of human body. The networks of such therapeutic NMs, body area nanonetworks (BAN2s), also empower sophisticated nanomedicine applications. In these applications, therapeutic NMs share information to perform computation and logic operations, and make decisions to treat complex diseases. Hence, one of the most challenging subjects for these sophisticated applications is the realization of BAN2 through a nanoscale communication paradigm. In this article, we introduce the concept of a BAN2 with molecular communication, where messenger molecules are used as communication carrier from a sender to a receiver NM. The current state of the art of molecular communication and BAN2 in nanomedicine applications is first presented. Then communication theoretical efforts are reviewed, and open research issues are given. The objective of this work is to introduce this novel and interdisciplinary research field and highlight major barriers toward its realization from the viewpoint of communication theory.

Deterministic capacity of information flow in molecular nanonetworks

Abstract Molecular communication enables nanomachines to exchange information with each other by emitting molecules to their surrounding environment. Molecular nanonetworks are envisioned as a number of nanomachines that are deployed in an environment to share specific molecular information such as odor, flavor, or any chemical state. In this paper, using the stochastic model of molecular reactions in biochemical systems, a realistic channel model is first introduced for molecular communication. Then, based on the realistic channel model, we introduce a deterministic capacity expression for point-to-point, broadcast, and multiple-access molecular channels. We also investigate information flow capacity in a molecular nanonetwork for the realization of efficient communication and networking techniques for frontier nanonetwork applications. The results reveal that molecular point-to-point, broadcast, and multiple-access channels are feasible with a satisfactorily high molecular communication rate, which allows molecular information flow in nanonetworks. Furthermore, the derived molecular channel model with input-dependent noise term also reveals that unlike a traditional Gaussian communication channel, achievable capacity is affected by both lower and upper bounds of the channel input in molecular communication channels.

An information theoretical approach for molecular communication

Molecular communication is a novel communication paradigm which allows nanomachines to communicate using molecules as a carrier. Controlled molecule delivery between two nanomachines is one of the most important challenges which must be addressed to enable the molecular communication. Therefore, it is essential to develop an information theoretical approach to find out molecule delivery capacity of the molecular channel. In this paper, we develop an information theoretical approach for capacity of a molecular channel between two nanomachines. We first introduce a molecular communication model. Then, using the principles of mass action kinetics we give a molecule delivery model for the molecular communication between two nanomachines called as Transmitter Nanomachine (TN) and Receiver Nanomachine (RN). Then, we derive a closed form expression for capacity of the channel between TN and RN. Numerical results show that selecting appropriate molecular communication parameters such as temperature of environment, concentration of emitted molecules, distance between nanomachines and duration of molecule emission, it can be possible to achieve maximum capacity for the molecular communication channel between two nanomachines.

On Channel Capacity and Error Compensation in Molecular Communication

Molecular communication is a novel paradigm that uses molecules as an information carrier to enable nanomachines to communicate with each other. Controlled molecule delivery between two nanomachines is one of the most important challenges which must be addressed to enable the molecular communication. Therefore, it is essential to develop an information theoretical approach to find out communication capacity of the molecular channel. In this paper, we develop an information theoretical approach for capacity of a molecular channel between two nanomachines. Using the principles of mass action kinetics, we first introduce a molecule delivery model for the molecular communication between two nanomachines called as Transmitter Nanomachine (TN) and Receiver Nanomachine (RN). Then, we derive a closed form expression for capacity of the channel between TN and RN. Furthermore, we propose an adaptive Molecular Error Compensation (MEC) scheme for the molecular communication between TN and RN. MEC allows TN to select an appropriate molecular bit transmission probability to maximize molecular communication capacity with respect to environmental factors such as temperature and distance between nanomachines. Numerical analysis show that selecting appropriate molecular communication parameters such as concentration of emitted molecules, duration of molecule emission, and molecular bit transmission probability it can be possible to achieve high molecular communication capacity for the molecular communication channel between two nanomachines. Moreover, the numerical analysis reveals that MEC provides more than % 100 capacity improvement in the molecular communication selecting the most appropriate molecular transmission probability.

Mobile Ad Hoc Nanonetworks with Collision-Based Molecular Communication

Recent developments in nanotechnology have enabled the fabrication of nanomachines with very limited sensing, computation, communication, and action capabilities. The network of communicating nanomachines is envisaged as nanonetworks that are designed to accomplish complex tasks such as drug delivery and health monitoring. For the realization of future nanonetworks, it is essential to develop novel and efficient communication and networking paradigms. In this paper, the first step toward designing a mobile ad hoc molecular nanonetwork (MAMNET) with electrochemical communication is taken. MAMNET consists of mobile nanomachines and infostations that share nanoscale information using electrochemical communication whenever they have a physical contact with each other. In MAMNET, the intermittent connectivity introduced by the mobility of nanomachines and infostations is a critical issue to be addressed. An analytical framework that incorporates the effect of mobility into the performance of electrochemical communication among nanomachines is presented. Using the analytical model, numerical analysis for the performance evaluation of MAMNET is obtained. Results reveal that MAMNET achieves adequately high throughput to enable frontier nanonetwork applications with acceptable communication latency.

BIOlogically-Inspired Spectrum Sharing in Cognitive Radio Networks

Cognitive radio is the promising radio technology, which aims to detect and utilize the temporally unused spectrum bands by sensing its radio environment in order to enhance spectrum utilization. However, these objectives bring significant challenges and required functionalities such as spectrum sensing, sharing, management and mobility for the realization of cognitive radio networks (CRN). In particular, efficient spectrum sharing problem in cognitive radio communication is one of the most important problem which must be addressed in order to enhance the overall spectrum utilization in dynamic spectrum access environments. In this paper, we introduce a new BIOlogically-inspired spectrum sharing (BIOSS) algorithm which is based on the adaptive task allocation model in insect colonies. Without need for any coordination among the unlicensed users, BIOSS enables each unlicensed user to distributively determine the appropriate channel(s) over which it can communicate. Performance evaluations clearly reveal that BIOSS achieves efficient dynamic spectrum sharing with high spectrum utilization and without any coordination among the users and hence yielding no spectrum handoff latency overhead due to coordination.

NanoNS: A nanoscale network simulator framework for molecular communications

Abstract A number of nanomachines that cooperatively communicate and share molecular information in order to achieve specific tasks is envisioned as a nanonetwork. Due to the size and capabilities of nanomachines, the traditional communication paradigms cannot be used for nanonetworks in which network nodes may be composed of just several atoms or molecules and scale on the orders of few nanometers. Instead, molecular communication is a promising solution approach for the nanoscale communication paradigm. However, molecular communication must be thoroughly investigated to realize nanoscale communication and nanonetworks for many envisioned applications such as nanoscale body area networks, and nanoscale molecular computers. In this paper, a simulation framework (NanoNS) for molecular nanonetworks is presented. The objective of the framework is to provide a simulation tool in order to create a better understanding of nanonetworks and facilitate the development of new communication techniques and the validation of theoretical results. The NanoNS framework is built on top of core components of a widely used network simulator (ns-2). It incorporates the simulation modules for various nanoscale communication paradigms based on a diffusive molecular communication channel. The details of NanoNS are discussed and some functional scenarios are defined to validate NanoNS. In addition to this, the numerical analyses of these functional scenarios and their experimental results are presented. The validation of NanoNS is shown via comparative evaluation of these experimental and numerical results.

On molecular multiple-access, broadcast, and relay channels in nanonetworks

Molecular communication is a novel paradigm that uses molecules as an information carrier to enable nanomachines to communicate with each other. Interconnections of the nanomachines with molecular communication is envisioned as a nanonetwork. Nanonetworks are expected to enable nanomechines to cooperatively share information such as odor, flavour, light, or any chemical state. In this paper, we develop and present models for the molecular multiple-access, broadcast, and relay channels in a nanonetwork and derive their capacity expressions. Numerical results reveal that the molecular multiple-access of nanomachines to a single nanomachine can be possible with the high molecular communication capacity by selecting the appropriate molecular communication parameters. Similarly, the molecular broadcast can also allow a single nanomachine to communicate with a number of nanomachines with high molecular communication capacity. As a combination of the molecular multiple-access and broadcast channel, we show that the molecular relay channel can improve the molecular communication capacity between two nanomachines using a relay nanomachine.

Carbon nanotube-based nanoscale ad hoc networks

Recent developments in nanoscale electronics allow current wireless technologies to function in nanoscale environments. Especially due to their incredible electrical and electromagnetic properties, carbon nanotubes are promising physical phenomenon that are used for the realization of a nanoscale communication paradigm. This provides a very large set of new promising applications such as collaborative disease detection with communicating in-vivo nanosensor nodes and distributed chemical attack detection with a network of nanorobots. Hence, one of the most challenging subjects for such applications becomes the realization of nanoscale ad hoc networks. In this article, we define the concept of carbon nanotube-based nanoscale ad hoc networks for future nanotechnology applications. Carbon nanotube-based nanoscale Ad hoc NETworks (CANETs) can be perceived as the down-scaled version of traditional wireless ad hoc networks without downgrading its main functionalities. The objective of this work is to introduce this novel and interdisciplinary research field and highlight major barriers toward its realization.

Nanoscale Communication With Molecular Arrays in Nanonetworks

Molecular communication is a promising nanoscale communication paradigm that enables nanomachines to exchange information by using molecules as communication carrier. Up to now, the molecular communication channel between a transmitter nanomachine (TN) and a receiver nanomachine (RN) has been modeled as either concentration channel or timing channel. However, these channel models necessitate exact time synchronization of the nanomachines and provide a relatively low communication bandwidth. In this paper, the Molecular ARray-based COmmunication (MARCO) scheme is proposed, in which the transmission order of different molecules is used to convey molecular information without any need for time synchronization. The MARCO channel model is first theoretically derived, and the intersymbol interference and error probabilities are obtained. Based on the error probability, achievable communication rates are analytically obtained. Numerical results and performance comparisons reveal that MARCO provides significantly higher communication rate, i.e., on the scale of 100 Kbps, than the previously proposed molecular communication models without any need for synchronization. More specifically, MARCO can provide more than 250 Kbps of molecular communication rate if intersymbol time and internode distance are set to 2 μs and 2 nm, respectively.