GNAN Projects: Nano Networks

The scale limitations of conventional silicon based systems and the potential benefits of nano-scale devices, have spurred significant interest in studying nano-scale systems. In this project, we explore the problem of networking among a class of nano-scale networks, called biological nano-networks. In collaboration with chemical, biological and mechanical researchers, we intend to address the two key networking problems of addressing and interference handling in such networks.

Impact:

Given the potential of nano-technology based systems to realize new advances in diverse application scenarios, communication and networking among these systems will emerge as a critical requirement in the future. However, current communication and networking paradigms are based on electromagnetic propagation and become inappropriate at nano-scales.

In this project, we intend to explore the design of networked nano-systems. We study biological networks where individual nano-machines or cells communicate amongst themselves by the release of molecules into the medium or by physical transport of bacterial carriers. This study is expected to enhance the knowledge about molecular nano-networks and contribute to improving the efficiency of biological networks. Additionally, it is also expected to provide benefits in non-biological application scenarios such as bio-films in industrial delivery lines and bio-sensors in securing against biological attacks.

Concept:

A nano-network architecture, illustrated in Figure 1, consists of multiple transmitter nano-machines (e.g. genetically modified cell) communicating with one or more receiver nano-machines (e.g. genetically modified cell). The underlying communication can involve two broad mechanisms:

Molecular communication: In this approach, transmitters release molecules into the medium to convey information.
Bacterial communication: In this approach, DNA information is physically carried by mobile carriers (for e.g. E. Coli bacteria) to the receiver.

We are currently exploring the use of bio-chemical attractants and biological tags. Biological tags such as antibody-antigen or Gemini-peptide ligand pairs allow preferential attachment between different biological nano-machines, thereby enabling addressing. Similarly, interference among independent information units has also been observed in biological nano-networks recently [2]. However, the nature of information and the nature of interference are significantly different when compared to conventional data networking, motivating further studies and the development of new solutions.

Results:

Related work has illustrated the impact of gene regulation at the single-cell level, where the expression of one DNA information unit can inhibit the expression of another DNA information unit. As illustrated in Figure 2, the expression of red-luminescence is inhibited by the green-luminescence, thereby illustrating the interference problem when multiple independent information sources and destinations share the same communication medium.

Figure 1: Nano-Network Architecture

Figure 2: Interference between red-luminescent and green-luminescent information as illustrated in [2]

Publications:

Y. Gao, S. Lakshmanan and R. Sivakumar, "On attractant scheduling in networks based on bacterial communication", IEEE Infocom Workshop on Molecular and Nanoscale Communication (MoNaCom), Shanghai, China, April, 2011.

People:

Sriram Lakshmanan (Student)
Sandeep Kakumanu (Student)
Cheng-Lin Tsao (Student)
Yunlong Gao (Student)
Raghupathy Sivakumar (Professor)

References:

I. F. Akyildiz, F. Brunetti, and C. Blazquez, "Nanonetworks: A New Communication Paradigm," Computer Networks (Elsevier) Journal, June 2008.
RosenFeld N, Young JW, Alon U, Swain PS, Elowitz MB, "Gene regulation at the single-cell level", Science, Volume 307, issue 5717, pp. 1962-1965, March 2005.