Call for Papers

Molecular communication (MC) is considered as one of the most promising communication techniques for connecting nanoscale devices. There are many prospective applications of MC, such as drug delivery, biochemical sensing, internet of bionanothings (IoBNTs), etc. As a novel type of communication technology and interdisciplinary subject, MC has received extensive attentions and made great progress. In the early years, molecular communication research mainly focuses on theoretical aspects. Recently, we see more and more experimental studies. On one hand, experimental studies can verify the feasibility of theoretical techniques and guide theoretical researchers to establish more realistic models. On the other hand, it is an important step to promote industrialization.

For MC experimental study, some macroscopic and microscopic MC platforms have been built up. MC transceiver prototypes have been fabricated. MC experiments based on live cells have been performed. These existing works are still in the initial stage. There are much more details and aspects which are worthy of in-depth study.

There are many difficulties in experimental MC research, because it is a truly multidisciplinary scientific field. The MC system solution design and in-vivo experiments require the participation of medical experts to ensure the rationality of the MC systems and the development of the experiments; the preparation of molecules and the design of chemical detection mechanisms require the support of scholars with a chemical background; the platform design and setup requires technicians who are familiar with nanotechnology, microfluidics, the use of microscopes, etc.; the transceiver design requires background knowledge of circuit design. Besides, discipline-based researchers face with language barriers to achieve effective communication. All of these make MC experimental research full of challenges.

The aim of this Special Issue is to advance the development of MC from theory to application by bringing together relevant research in experimental MC. The Special Issue will focus on the related work of experimental MC, which may include MC system implementation, nano MC transceiver design, algorithms for MC system testbeds, synthetic biology and engineering of cells, medical related MC systems, etc. Prospective authors are cordially invited to submit their original manuscript on topics including but not limited to:

• Macroscopic and microscopic MC system platforms
• MC system testbeds with microfluidic channel
• Vesicular MC system platforms
• In-vivo MC system implementation
• Design and fabrication of MC transceivers
• Modulation and demodulation experiments of MC
• Validation platforms for signal detection based on optical engineering, chemical engineering, etc.
• Miniaturization of transceivers based on nanotechnology
• MC related nanosensors and nanorobots
• Molecular MIMO experiments
• Novel algorithms for MC related experiments
• Biochemical or biophysical signaling and communication interface experiments for MC systems
• Synthetic biology and engineering of cells
• MC systems with live cells
• MC testbeds for disease diagnosis and treatment applications

Submission Guidelines

Prospective authors should submit their manuscripts following the IEEE TMBMC guidelines. Authors should submit a manuscript through Manuscript Central under “Experimental MC”.

Important Dates

Manuscript Submission Deadline: 15 July 2023 (Extended Deadline)
First Notification: 31 July 2023
Acceptance Notification: 31 August 2023
Final Manuscript Due: 30 September 2023
Publication Date: December 2023

Guest Editors

Lin Lin (Lead Guest Editor)
Tongji University, China

Tadashi Nakano
Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan

Hao Yan
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China