A Testbed for Molecular Communication using a Microfluidic Device with Fluorescent Nanoparticles

Unlike existing technologies, a new communication technique that fits well in nano- and micro-sized scenarios is molecular communication (MC). Inspired by nature, MC relies on the exchange of molecules for the transfer of information. This work describes a molecular multiple-input multiple-out (MIMO) communication platform based on a microfluidic device and an optical detection system. We demonstrate an MC platform that uses fluorescent beads as messenger molecules to transport encoded information in microfluidic channels via flow-induced diffusion. Programmable syringe pumps acting as transmitters transmit fluorescent beads into the microchannels, and the fluorescence microscope records the signal at the receiver end. This microfluidic platform can be used as an experimental testbed for molecular communication and will pave the way for providing a chassis to study molecular communication at the interface of biology.