This chapter discusses how biological components can be designed and engineered as part of a molecular communication system. Building on material given in earlier chapters, the engineering of individual biochemical components such as proteins, DNA, liposomes, and individual cells is discussed.

This chapter introduces molecular communication in biological systems. It discusses biological molecular communication in general, and subsequently discusses a series of examples of biological molecular communication, including examples of communication within intercellular organisms, and between individual organisms such as bacteria.

This chapter concludes the book, presenting future research problems and applications for molecular communication.

This chapter introduces biological concepts that are important in the remainder of the book, particularly biochemical components of natural biological “nanomachines”. Biochemical structures such as proteins, DNA, RNA, lipid membranes, and vesicles are introduced, as well as an introduction to cells is given.

This chapter considers standardization in molecular communication. Two IEEE standards, 1906.1 and 1906.1.1, have been developed for nanonetworks, in general, and molecular communication, in particular; these standards and their development are described.

This chapter introduces layered architecture for molecular communication. Inspired by, but distinct from, layered architecture in conventional communication networks, this chapter introduces a layered design that is appropriate for molecular communication applications. Models and functionalities of each layer are discussed.

This chapter discusses how molecular communication systems can be designed, using the various techniques described in the book. The chapter discusses system design in the context of four specific application areas: drug delivery, tissue engineering, lab-on-chip technology, and unconventional computation. In each case, the general application scenario is discussed, and specific design examples are presented.

This chapter discusses experimental molecular communication at the macroscale, particularly low-cost “tabletop” experimental platforms. Several specific examples are given, such as tabletop molecular communication with alcohol vapour, and molecular MIMO systems.

This chapter considers the coordination of the actions of bionanomachines, such as cluster formation. This task is important to applications such as drug delivery at tumour sites. Mathematical models of cluster formation and system designs are presented, along with computer simulation results demonstrating that bionanomachines can move collectively and form clusters.

This chapter discusses mobile molecular communication. In most foreseeable applications, bionanomachines must move to accomplish their task, and this chapter discusses the problems related to maintaining communication links while moving. Models of mobility are given, and a case study of mobile molecular communication involving cells is discussed.

This chapter gives basic information about molecular communication. It introduces the concept and gives simple examples, explores the history of molecular communication, and discusses several examples to motivate the rest of the book.

This chapter discusses the formation of large-scale structures composed of bionanomachines. Building on material presented in the Chapter 13, this chapter considers mathematical models for collective motion involving potentially millions of bionanomachines. The model may be applied to cancer biology, particularly to model the formation of tumors.