An efficient design approach of directional couplers based multiplexers/demultiplexers for optical communication applications, by using an adapted artificial immune network algorithm for optimization (opt-AiNet), is presented and validated by using the beam propagation method. Two key multiplexers/demultiplexers based on planar waveguides and optical fiber, directional couplers, have been optimized in order to validate the efficiency and usefulness of the opt-AiNet.v. 14n.2229237