Page 103 - ITU Journal Future and evolving technologies Volume 2 (2021), Issue 3 – Internet of Bio-Nano Things for health applications

ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies, Volume 2 (2021), Issue 3

RATE CONTROL FOR THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS IN INTERNET OF BIO‑NANO THINGS USING
MOLECULAR COMMUNICATION: A SURVEY

1
2
Shirin Salehi , Naghmeh Sadat Moayedian , Mohammad Taghi Sha iee 1
1 Communications Regulatory Authority, Ministry of ICT, Iran, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
2
Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156‑83111, Iran
NOTE: Corresponding author: Naghmeh Sadat Moayedian, moayedian@cc.iut.ac.ir

Abstract – Molecular communication is transmitting and receiving chemical signals using molecules and is an interdisci‑
plinary ield between nanotechnology, biology, and communication. Molecular communication can be used for connecting
bio‑nano things. The connected nano‑things build a nano‑network. Transport mechanisms in molecular communication
include free diffusion, gap junction channels, molecular motors, self‑propelling microorganisms like bacteria and random
collision of mobile nano‑things. Free diffusion is the most widely used transport mechanism in the literature. Brownian mo‑
tion is always available and its energy consumption is zero. This paper explores the therapeutic applications of rate control
in the Internet of Bio‑Nano Things and reviews the recent trends and advancements in the ield of molecular communication.
These methods aim to guarantee the desired rate of drug molecules at the target site and overcome the side effects of excessive
emission.
Keywords – Bio‑nano things, molecular communication, release rate control, targeted drug delivery

1. INTRODUCTION To overcome these limitations, graphene‑based nano‑
antennas are provided. Graphene is a form of carbon
Nanomachines are the most basic operational units with composed of lat sheets with the thickness of an atom
dimensions of several hundred nanometers to a maxi‑ in which atoms are placed as honeycomb lattices. Due
mum of a few micrometers and have limited capabilities. to its speci ic properties, graphene‑based nano‑antennas
They can perform simple tasks such as sensing, stimu‑ will radiate at a lower frequency than the Terahertz band,
lating, calculating and storing information. In order to and the channel attenuation will be much less at this fre‑
increase the capabilities of nanomachines and use them quency, therefore, graphene‑based nano‑antennas allow
in real scenarios, a network must be formed between for nanoscale electromagnetic communication [5, 6].
them. In this way, nanomachines are able to collaborate,
combine or share information. The connection of these Molecular communication is a new method that is in‑
nanomachines is called a nano‑network [1]. In fact, nano‑ spired by the communication between living cells. In
networks are a new research branch that results from molecular communication, information is transmitted
the use of nanotechnology in the ield of digital commu‑ through message molecules [7]. The advantages of this
nications [2, 3]. The very small size of nanomachines solution compared to nano‑electromagnetic communica‑
makes the physical telecommunication channels in nano‑ tion are inherent nanoscale, biocompatibility and low
networks signi icantly different from traditional wireless energy consumption [8]. In molecular communication,
and wired channels. Currently, there are two methods for chemical signals or molecules are sent and received.
connecting nanomachines: nano‑electromagnetic com‑ There are many differences between molecular commu‑
munication and molecular communication [1]. nication and traditional communication: In molecular
Nano‑electromagnetic communication is the sending and communication, the message is encoded in molecules,
receiving of electromagnetic waves between nanoscale whereas in traditional networks, information is encoded
components. There is ambiguity about how nano‑ in electromagnetic, audio and optical signals. The rate of
antennas can be achieved by shrinking existing antennas. wave propagation in traditional networks is much faster
The frequency released by the antenna comes from the than the speed of the propagation of molecular messages.
∝ , in which is wave propagation speed and is In addition, in molecular communication, most of the en‑

antenna length, so in the expected size of a nanomachine, ergy consumed is chemical and power consumption is
the frequency released by nano‑antenna will be in the op‑ low, while electrical energy is used in traditional net‑
tical range (hundreds of THz). Although this frequency works.
leads to a lot of bandwidth, it will also have a lot of loss, Molecular communication can be effective in medical ap‑
which causes the range of these nano‑antennas to be al‑ plications due to their biocompatibility [9, 10, 11, 12].
mostzero, sotraditionalelectromagnetictelecommunica‑ The components of molecular communication are: trans‑
tion methods must be deeply revised before using them in mitting nanomachine, receiving nanomachines, messen‑
new scenarios [4]. ger molecules, interface molecules and transport mecha‑

© International Telecommunication Union, 2021 91