Molecular communication for nanoscale communication networks

Nanoscale networks represent the next step in future communications. They use molecules to encode and transmit the information instead of electromagnetic, optical or acoustic waves, opening up a wealth of new solutions for several applications in biomedical, industrial and military fields. Due to certain limitations, traditional communication technologies are not suitable for nanoscale networks. Hence, nanoscale networks require new solutions such as molecular protocols, molecular channel models, and molecular transceivers for their realization. In this paper, first the concepts of molecular and nanoscale communication are explored by comparing nanoscale networks to traditional networking technologies. Later, the molecular communication, its components, communication phases, and transport methods in a biological system are explained. Then, the process of engineering nanoscale communication networks using molecular communications is discussed along with some of their interesting applications. Moreover, the short and long-range communication scenarios for the nanoscale communication networks are presented and in the end, the current developmental work and open research issues in the area of nanoscale communication networks are highlighted.