Modelling, Design, and Implementation of Molecular Communication Systems - Phase 2: Media-Modulation based Molecular Communication

• Applicants: Professor Andreas Burkovski, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Kathrin Castiglione; Professor Dr.-Ing. Robert Schober; Professor Dr. Heinrich Sticht
• Subject Area: Communication Technology and Networks, High-Frequency Technology and Photonic Systems, Signal Processing and Machine Learning for Information Technology
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290825040

Molecular communication (MC) enables via the exchange of information carrying signaling particles communication in environments where traditional communication concepts based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves fail. This is true for example for microscale environments and liquid media. Although MC is common in natural communication systems, the design and experimental verification of synthetic MC systems are at a very preliminary stage. In the first phase of this project, many challenges regarding the modelling, design, and experimental verification of MC systems have been tackled and a first biological testbed has been successfully demonstrated. However, one significant practical drawback of existing MC designs is that the signaling particles are emitted by the transmitter and, as a result, have to be regularly replenished for continuous transmission, which is difficult if not impossible to accomplish, especially in microscale and medical applications. To overcome this limitation, in the second phase of this project, we investigate the new concept of media-modulation based MC. In media modulation, the transmitter embeds its message into the surrounding medium by changing the properties of signaling particles that are already present in the channel. In the simplest case, the signaling particles are capable of assuming two different states and the transmitted information (e.g. bit 0 or 1) is represented by the state. To study their benefits and limitations, we develop analytical models for media-modulation based MC systems. Since the practicality and properties of media modulation depend on the availability of suitable signaling particles, we will consider three different realization options, namely phosphorylation-based MC systems as a natural example for media-modulation based MC, functionalized polymersomes as a convenient synthetic option, and redox-based MC systems. Based on the respective analytical models, we will develop corresponding modulation, detection, and estimation schemes. Furthermore, to experimentally verify the proposed models and design concepts, we will develop and implement a testbed for polymersome-based MC, in which polymersomes having photo-switchable green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants immobilized on their surface serve as signaling particles. The expected outcomes of this project include (1) a general communication-theoretical modelling framework for media-modulation based MC systems, (2) novel modulation, detection, and estimation schemes for media modulation, (3) the first polymersome-based MC testbed worldwide, (4) simulative and experimental verification of media modulation as well as the developed communication-theoretical models and system design concepts.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants