Molecular Communication Networks

Submission Deadline: 30 November 2018

IEEE Access invites manuscript submissions in the area of Molecular Communication Networks.

With an improved ability to manipulate matter at the nano and micro scales via synthetic biological and chemical techniques, there are now opportunities to address challenges ranging from disease diagnosis and treatment to environmental protection. A key framework to develop these tools is nano networking, where networks are built from nanoscale devices that are able to operate in nano to micrometer scale environments, and perform simple tasks such as sensing and actuation. However, the effectiveness of nano networking strongly depends on the ability for devices to coordinate.

Molecular communication has been proposed as a means of coordination in nano networks, where information is exchanged between devices via molecules emitted and absorbed by each device. The basic principles of molecular communication are based on mature aspects of physics, chemistry, biology as well as other areas including pharmacology, microfluidics and medicine. However, there remain a number of challenges in developing signal processing and communication techniques to encode and decode information, as well as develop practical implementations. A particular challenge is how to reliably embed molecular communication systems within existing biochemical systems, which is important for medical applications from the perspective of toxicity and undesirable side effects.

Authors are encouraged to submit articles presenting new research related to theory or practice of all aspects of molecular communications and networks. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Theoretical Modeling (e.g., channel modeling, transmitter and receiver device modeling)
• Architectures, Protocols, Optimal Design (e.g., modulation design, channel parameter estimation, detection, inter-symbol interference mitigation)
• Transmitter/Receiver Mechanisms & Components
• Multi-scale and experimental analysis of Molecular Communication Networks
• Simulation Tools (e.g., tools, models, and approaches for developing simulation packages for Molecular Communication Networks)
• Interoperability between Molecular Communication Networks and other systems (e.g., Internet of Nano Things, Internet of Bio-Nano Things, Intra-body communication, Body Area Nano-networks)
• Implementation techniques and for Molecular Communication Networks (e.g., exploiting Nanotechnology and Nanobioscience)
• Power Sources and Energy efficiency models for Molecular Communication Networks
• Security in Molecular Communication Networks
• Potential Applications for Molecular Communication Networks

We also highly recommend the submission of multimedia with each article as it significantly increases the visibility, downloads, and citations of articles.

Associate Editor: Daniel Benevides da Costa, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil

Guest Editors:

1. Trung Q. Duong, Queen’s University, UK
2. Chan-Byoung Chae, Yonsei University, South Korea
3. Andrew Eckford, York University, Canada
4. Malcolm Egan, INRIA and INSA Lyon, France
5. Arumugam Nallanathan, Queen Mary University of London, UK
6. Marco Di Renzo, Paris-Saclay University, France

Relevant IEEE Access Special Sections:

1. Nano-antennas, Nano-transceivers, and Nano-networks / Communications
2. Physical and Medium Access Control Layer Advances in 5G Wireless Networks
3. Future Networks: Architectures, Protocols, and Applications

IEEE Access Editor-in-Chief: Michael Pecht, Professor and Director, CALCE, University of Maryland

Paper submission: Contact Associate Editor and submit manuscript to:
http://ieee.atyponrex.com/journal/ieee-access

For inquiries regarding this Special Section, please contact: danielbcosta@ieee.org