Nanonetworks in Biomedical Applications

Abstract

By interconnecting nanomachines and forming nanonetworks, the capacities of single nanomachines are expected to be enhanced, as the ensuing information exchange will allow them to cooperate towards a common goal. Nowadays, systems normally use electromagnetic signals to encode, send and receive information, however, in a novel communication paradigm, molecular transceivers, channel models or protocols use molecules. This article presents the current developments in nanomachines along with their future architecture to better understand nanonetwork scenarios in biomedical applications. Furthermore, to highlight the communication needs between nanomachines, two applications for nanonetworks are also presented: i) a new networking paradigm, called the Internet of NanoThings, that allows nanoscale devices to interconnect with existing communication networks, and ii) Molecular Communication, where the propagation of chemical compounds like drug particles, carry out the information exchange.