Epidemic-Like Calcium Signaling in Mobile Molecular Communication Networks

IEEE Trans Nanobioscience. 2022 Jul;21(3):425-438. doi: 10.1109/TNB.2022.3155644. Epub 2022 Jun 30.

Abstract

Molecular Communication is an emerging technology enabling communications in nano-networks. Ca2+ signal is one promising option of MC due to the important role in bio-metabolisms and the available characteristics in communication engineering. So far, scientists analyze Ca2+ signaling via bio-experiments and simulations. Current researches lack a mathematical model for quantitative analysis of Ca2+ signal propagation on the network scale. In this work, we investigate the propagation patterns of Ca2+ signals in bio-cellular network. Firstly, we propose an improved Ca2+ dynamics model to describe Ca2+ signals considering movements of cells and attenuation of Ca2+ concentration. Then, we perform multi-modal analysis through the waveform characteristics, and classify cells according to their states. Moreover, a mathematical model is put forward to analyze the propagation of calcium signals based on typical epidemic model. The proposed model fully considers the similarity between: 1) epidemic disease propagates among mobile individuals; 2) Ca2+ signal propagates among mobile cells. The proposed model is amended to fit the case considering unique characters of Ca2+ signal. Finally, simulation results show that the proposed Ca2+ propagation model is coincident with Monte Carlo simulation results, indicating that the model is helpful for understanding how far and how fast Ca2+ signal can propagate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium Signaling*
  • Calcium* / metabolism
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical

Substances

  • Calcium