A Design of a Molecular Communication System Using Biological Communication Mechanisms

1. A Design of a Molecular Communication System Using Biological Communication Mechanisms T. Nakano*, A. Enomoto*, M. Moore*, R. Egashira*, T. Suda*,K. Oiwa +, Y. Hiraoka +, T. Haraguchi+, R. Nakamori+, T. Koujin+*University of California, Irvine+National Institute of Information and Communications Technology

2. Outline • Nanomachine communication • Nanomachines • Our approach • Molecular communication • Example systems • Conclusions

3. Nanomachine Communication • Goal • Achieve communication between nanomachines • Nanomachine: nano-scale or molecular scale objects that are capable of performing simple tasks Figure: “Protonic Nanomachin Project”, Prof. Namba at Osaka University: http://www.npn.jst.go.jp/index.html

4. Nanomachines • Biological nanomachines • Dynein • Molecular motors that walk along microtubule in a cell • F1ATPase • Synthesizes ATP (energy) by using an influx of protons to rotate • Bacterium • Swims toward the chemicals (e.g, food) using flagellum Bacterium Figures: Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell Dynein F1ATPase

5. AND Product Substrate Enzyme Effector Nanomachines • Biological nanomachines • logic gates made of biological components (e.g, enzymes or bacteria) • If both substrate and effector exist, product produced • If no effector or no substrate, substrate remains unchanged S P C

6. Nanomachines • Artificial nanomachines • Nickel propeller • Size: 0.75 - 1.5 um • Micron motor • Size: 100 um in diameter • 10,000 rpm “Engineering Issues in the fabrication of a hybrid nano-propeller system powered by F1-ATPase” MEMS/NEMS: http://www.fujita3.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/

7. Our Approach • Use communication mechanisms that biological systems use • Intracellular communication • Intercellular communication

8. Intracellular Communication • Transport materials using molecular motors within a cell Vesicles transported by molecular motors Microtubules

9. 0 3 6 9 24 15 210 12 Intercellular communication • Cells coordinate through calcium signaling J. Cell Biol. Jørgensen et al. 139 (2): 497, 1997

10. AND Product Substrate Enzyme Effector Applications • Pinpoint drug delivery • To deliver drug to (targeted) cancer cells • Molecular computing • Coordination among distributed logical gates <Bio nano-machine communication> S P C AND OR AND

11. Outline • Nanomachine communication • Nanomachines • Our approach • Molecular communication • Example systems • Conclusions

12. Molecular Communication • Sending and receiving of molecules as an information carrier

13. Make nanomachines communicate using communication mechanisms in living organisms • Senders/receivers = biological nanomachines • Communication carrier = molecules (e.g., proteins, ions, DNAs) • Communication distance = nano/micro scale • A receiver (chemically/physically) reacts to incoming molecules

14. Information molecules (Proteins, ions, DNA) 5. Decoding 1. Encoding 4. Receiving 2. Sending 3. Propagation Senders (nanomachines) Receivers (nanomachines)

15. Key System Components • A sender • Molecule generation • Molecule encoding • Molecule emission • Propagation • Molecule loading at a sender • Direction control • Molecule unloading at a receiver • Molecule recycling

16. A receiver • Molecule reception • Molecule decoding • Molecule decomposition or recycling

17. System Characteristics • We want the system to be • Autonomous (i.e., no human control) • Closed (i.e., no energy supply from outside) • Recycling (of carrier molecules and information molecules) • Other system characteristics • Probabilistic behavior • Many to many communication • Slow delivery of molecules

18. Two Example Systems • Molecular Communication • Using a cellular network • Using molecular motors

19. Example 1: Molecular Communication Based on a Cellular Network Network of Biological Cells Encoding information on calcium waves Engineering the network components using cells Decoding information from calcium waves Various cellular responses (e.g., contraction, secretion, growth, death) Amplifier Switch

20. 1-n communication (broadcasting medium)

21. 1-1 communication

22. Gap Junctions • Nanoscale protein channels connecting two adjacent cells • Allowing small molecules to be shared among cells, enabling coordinated action of the cells

23. Example Networking • Filtering signals Signal X is more permeable to channels formed between the cells

24. Example Networking • Filtering signals Signal Y is more permeable to channels formed between the cells

25. External signal Example Networking • Switching the direction of signaling

26. Example Networking • Switching the direction of signaling Phosphorylation of channels increases/decreases permeability of the channels.

27. Example 2: Molecular Communication Using Molecular Motors • Nanomachines communicate using molecular motors. • Molecules are transported by molecular motors that walk over a network of rail molecules.

28. Outline • Nanomachine communication • Nanomachines • Our approach • Molecular communication • Example systems • Conclusions

29. Research Issues • Developing applications that require communication among bio nanomachines • System designs using biological communication mechanisms • Autonomous, closed, recycling system • Various system components • Creating new “information” and “coding” concepts and models • Various approaches • Feasibility test through experiments • Theoretical modeling and analysis • Simulations

30. Conclusions • Molecular Communication • New paradigm • Need a lot of research • Integrating nano technology, bio technology and computer science