A feedback-based molecular communication protocol for noisy intrabody environments

This paper considers short-range (up to 100 μm) molecular communication where bio-nanomachines transmit and receive molecule-encoded messages and applies Stop-and-Wait Automatic Repeat Request (SW-ARQ) for feedback-based reliable communication in noisy intrabody environments. Three coommunication transports are considered: (1) diffusive transports where molecules diffuse via random thermal motion, (2) directional transports where molecules directionally move on pre-defined protein filaments with molecular motors and (3) diffusive-directional hybrid transports where molecules propagate with both diffusive and directional transports. Simulation results demonstrate that SW-ARQ improves latency and reliability in both diffusive and directional transports. Hybridization of the two transports aids extra improvements in latency and reliability.