Toward Establishing Molecular Interfaces Using Terahertz Radiation

Miniaturization is creating innovative solutions that pave the path toward effective diagnosis and treatments. One option is molecular communication (MC), where information is exchanged between biological and artificial nanomachines through molecules emitted and absorbed by these nanodevices. Another option is electromagnetic (EM) nano-communication, which points to the Terahertz band (0.1-10 THz) as the frequency range for communication among nanobiosensors. In this work, we propose a novel stimulus-responsive paradigm that bridges the gap between the MC and THz-EM domains by stimulating proteins in the human body. We capitalize on the fact that proteins exhibit collective vibrational modes in the THz regime, which could be attributed to functionally relevant dynamics. As such, we present a study of the proposed paradigm merging the two fields. We explain the physical basis underlying the interaction between the THz signals and protein structures. We then formulate a mathematical framework that relates the protein mechanical system to its stochastic behavior. We also demonstrate the communication link established between the nanoantenna and the protein. Finally, we illustrate potential applications that showcase the importance of our proposed integrative system in advancing the future of health care.