Frequency-domain model of microfluidic molecular communication channels with graphene BioFET-based receivers

Abstract

Molecular Communication (MC) is a bio-inspired communication paradigm utilizing molecules for information transfer. Research on MC has largely transitioned from theoretical investigations to practical testbed implementations, harnessing microfluidics and sensor technologies. Accurate models for input-output relationships on these platforms are crucial for optimizing MC methods and understanding the impact of physical parameters on performance. Our study focuses on a practical microfluidic MC system with a graphene field effect transistor biosensor (bioFET)-based receiver, developing an end-to-end frequency-domain model. The model provides insights into the dispersion, distortion, and attenuation of received signals, thus potentially informing the design of new frequency-domain MC techniques, such as modulation and detection methods. The accuracy of the developed model is verified through particle-based spatial stochastic simulations of pulse transmission and ligand-receptor reactions on the receiver surface.