Effect of aging, disease versus health conditions in the design of nano-communications in blood vessels

Abstract

This chapter illustrates the analysis of a nano-communication system, implemented in blood vessels, designed for detecting tumor cells. This system may be used for diagnostic purposes in the early stage of a disease or to check any relapse of a previous disease already treated.The tumor detection happens through revealing tumor biomarkers, such as the CD47 protein, on the cell surface. Once a biomarker has been revealed, a molecular communication system distributes the information to a number of nano-machines having a size allowing them to flow through the vessel at the maximum speed of the bloodstream. The final information detection is extra-body, and based on a smart probe, which triggers a decision tree computing which aims to find if any tumor is present and the most likely location. Effects of aging and serious disease, such as the diabetes, are highlighted.