Internet of Bio-Nano Things: A review of applications, enabling technologies and key challenges

Abstract

Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT) is envisioned to be a heterogeneous network of nanoscale and biological devices, so called Bio-Nano Things (BNTs), communicating via non-conventional means, e.g., molecular communications (MC), in non-conventional environments, e.g., inside human body. The main objective of this emerging networking framework is to enable direct and seamless interaction with biological systems for accurate sensing and control of their dynamics in real time. This close interaction between bio and cyber domains with unprecedentedly high spatio-temporal resolution is expected to open up vast opportunities to devise novel applications, especially in healthcare area, such as intrabody continuous health monitoring. There are, however, substantial challenges to be overcome if the enormous potential of the IoBNT is to be realized. These range from developing feasible nanocommunication and energy harvesting techniques for BNTs to handling the big data generated by IoBNT. In this survey, we attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the IoBNT framework along with its main components and applications. An investigation of key technological challenges is presented together with a detailed review of the state-of-the-art approaches and a discussion of future research directions.

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“…Such powerful webs of synthetic cells might also establish strong connections with living cells and originate the so-called Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNTs; Stano et al, 2023 ). The hybrid and collective intelligence of the IoBNTs promises to have a plethora of applications ( Akyildiz, et al, 2015 ; Kuscu and Unluturk, 2021 ), such as diagnosis and therapies for human health and control and cleaning in natural ecosystems or urban areas. In the IoBNTs, even two- ( Kagan et al, 2022 ) or three-dimensional cultures of human brain cells (brain organoids; Smirnova et al, 2023 ) might be involved.…”

Chemical Systems for Wetware Artificial Life: Selected Perspectives in Synthetic Cell Research

“…The latter has been put forward by communication engineers interested in Molecular Communication (MC), and focuses on nano- and microscale artificial elements (parts, devices, systems) communicating with each other. The resulting bio-nano network should be designed and constructed to achieve specific functions when these artificial elements, interfaced with living cells, behave in a coordinated manner, in particular inside the human body [ 50 , 51 ]. For example, SCs should be capable of exchanging information between each other and with biological cells in a predictable manner.…”

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“…More importantly, scaling of the received concentration signals can also be observed in mobile MC systems [39], [40]. For example, when the transmitter-receiver distance d becomes smaller than the initial distance d * , the received concentrations corresponding to both bit-0 and bit-1 increase, scaled by the same factor that depends on the distance, as determined by the CIR in (2). Conversely, when the transmitter and receiver move further apart after deployment, the received concentrations decrease.…”

“…This so-called Molecular Communications (MC) is believed to have been optimized through evolution in terms of energy efficiency and reliability in complex and dynamic biological environments [1]. This has inspired researchers to explore the opportunities for engineering MC towards creating artificial heterogeneous networks of 'bio-nano things' (e.g., artificial and natural cells, biosensors, and micro/nano robots) in order to enable the Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT) applications, ranging from continuous health monitoring, smart drug delivery, to biofabrication and biocomputing [2], [3].…”