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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“…IoBNT applications typically encompass a vast number of BNTs [7]. When implemented with GRMs, this raises concerns regarding device heterogeneity in terms of performance due to existing reproducibility issues associated with GRM-based devices.…”

“…A critical challenge in realizing IoBNT applications is continuous power provisioning [7], where a self-sustaining strategy could be optimal. For micro/nanoscale devices, nanomaterial-based energy generators (or nanogenerators) have emerged as a key element due to their ability to convert various ambient energy resources, such as motion, light, flow, and heat, into utilizable power.…”

“…The biotic world is characterized by immense heterogeneity among interacting entities, such as living cells, animals, plants, and bacterial communities, communicating across various spatio-temporal scales in challenging biological environments, such as inside human body. These natural BNTs interact through unconventional communication methods, such as exchanging biochemical and electrochemical signals, across diverse physiological environments [7]. At the fundamental level, biological interactions primarily involve micro/nanoscale components or their modular assemblies, such as ligand receptors and cargo-carrying microtubules [8], highlighting the essential role of artificial BNTs within the IoBNT framework for monitoring and controlling biological systems at single molecular resolution.…”