This document discusses nanotechnology and how it relates to Ayurvedic bhasma preparations. It defines nanotechnology as manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular scale, from 1 to 100 nanometers. Bhasma involve grinding minerals and metals down to the nanoscale through processes like puta and bhavana. Characteristics of bhasmas like bioavailability are comparable to those of modern nanoparticles. Standardizing bhasmas based on nanoparticle size and properties could help validate ancient Ayurvedic nano-medicine practices.

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2.  The word Nano is derived from Greek word ‘Dwarf’
means a “billionth”.
 A nanometre is billionth of a meter or one thousandth
of a millimetre(mm) or about 1/80000 of the diameter
of a human hair.
 The term nanotechnology was coined by Prof.Norio
Taniguchi, Tokyo university in 1974.
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3.  Nanotechnology or nanotech is the study of the
controlling of matter on an atomic and molecular scale.
Generally nanotechnology deals with structures sized
between 1 to 100 nanometre in at least one dimension
and involves developing materials or devices within
that size.
 FEDERAL GOV’S DEFINITION :- nanotechnology
is the creation of fundamental materials , devices and
systems through control of matter on the nanometer
scale, exploiting novel phenomena and properties
present at that scale only.
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4. Kilometer Km 1000meter 1x103
Meter m 1meter 1x100
Millimeter mm 1/1000 1x10-3
Micrometer mm 1/1000000 1x10-6
Nanometer nm 1/100000000 1x10-9
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A nanometer Is the one billionth of a meter

5.  There are 2 main approaches for the synthesis of
nanoparticles.
1. Top – down technique(dispersion based process)
 It involves breaking large micro sized particles into
nanoparticles
 Mainly used in medicine
METHODS:- wet milling, emulsification etc.,
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7. 2.Bottom – up approach(precipitation based process)
 Ions/atoms are grown from smaller to bigger particles.
 Which involves manipulating individual atoms and
molecules into nanostructures and more closely
resembles chemistry or biology.
 Main use in electronic and biotechnological
applications.
 Medicinal use as diagnostic/therapeutics.
METHODS:- spray freezing into liquid, evaporative
precipitation
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8.  Nano suspensions and Nano crystals
 Solid lipid nanoparticles
 Polymeric nanoparticles
 Magnetic nanoparticles
 Carbon nanotubes
 Liposomes
 Nanoshells
 Ceramic nanoparticles
 Nanopores
 Nanowires
 Quantum dots
 ferrofluids 8

9.  Nanotechnology when used with biology or medicine is
referred to as nano biotechnology or nano medicine.
 Nanotechnology provides the field of medicine with
promising hopes of assistance in diagnostic and
treatment technologies as well as improving quality of
life. Humans have the potential to live healthier lives in
the near future due to the innovations of
nanotechnology
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10.  Better drug delivery system with minimal side effects
 Disease diagnosis
 Prevention and treatment of disease
 Tissue reconstruction
 Medical tools
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11. PROPERTIES OF BHASMAS:
 Rasayana – immunomodulation and antiaging
 Yogavahi – targeted drug delivery
 Rasibhava – readily absorbable, adoptable
 Sheegravyapi – spreads quickly and fast acting
 Agnideepana – bhasma increases metabolism at cellular
level and acts as catalyst
These attributes of bhasma are comparable with the action
of nanoparticles in the body
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12.  Nanoparticles are biodegradable, biocompatible and
non antigenic in nature. Nanotechnology in general can
be used to provide selective/targeted/controlled
delivery of drugs to specific site of action in the body
even across the blood brain barrier.
 Bhasmas are the nanocrystalline materials in terms of
nanotechnology, nanocrystalline materials are solids
composed of crystallites with less than 100nm in at
least one dimension it requires mechanical milling.
 Ayurveda concept of mardhana and bhavana to reduce
particle size in an ultimate result of these processes.
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13. METHODOLOGIES USED TO TEST NANOPARTICLES
ARE:-
 Environmental electron microscopy
 SEM (scanning electron microscopy)
 TEM (transmission electron microscopy)
 Cryo-TEM
 Confocal laser scanning microscopy
 Fluorescence optical microscopy
 EDAX (energy dispersive x-ray analysis)
 ICP (inductively coupled plasma)
 AAS (atomic absorption spectroscopy)
 XPS (x-ray induced photoelectron spectroscopy)
 Gel electrophoresis
 Enzyme expression
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14.  One needs to establish the presence of nanoparticles in
the test sample.
 The second factor is the chemical composition and the
task is to ascertain whether the composition is
homogeneous.
 The third test is on the state of the nanoparticles as to
whether they are crystalline or amorphous and the
nature of detects in the sample.
 The samples has to be biologically tested to check
bioactivity.
 Finally the convergence of all these in the mechanism
of action for a particular application needs to be tested
as well.
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15. TRADITIONAL(AYURVEDIC) MODERN(BIOSYNTHESIS)
Top-down approach Bottom-up approach
Bulk metal is converted into smaller
particles
Ions/atoms are grown from smaller to
bigger particles
Heat beat treat chemistry Better size control
Very elaborate and time consuming Mainly use in electronic and
biotechnological applications
Used in medicine, efficacy is proven Medicinal use as diagnostic/therapeutics
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16.  In terms of particle size, nanoparticles will aid in
determining standardization.
 Apart from bhasma siddi lakshanas, presence of
nanoparticles in the bhasma has to be tested and
parameters has to be fixed in order to standardize the
bhasma in terms of nanoparticles.
 Each bhasma has to be placed in a particular nanometer
range.
Eg:- 1. yashada bhasma average size b/w 10-40nm
2. swarna bhasma average size b/w56-57nm
3. rasasindoora average size b/w 25-50nm
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17.  Marana is the process of preparation of bhasma of
different minerals and metals.
 Marana is the unique procedure explained in
rasashastra to prepare the dosage forms which is having
the particle size of nanometer.
 In olden days as there is no thermometer or pyrometer
to read the temperature rasacharyas have formulated
puta which gives the required temperature to convert
minerals and metals in to bhasma based on the hardness
and character of the material.
 Bhasma parikshas are the quality control measures of
the bhasma which indicates the knowledge of
rasacharyas about the characteristics of the ideal
medicine when they are used therapeutically. 17

18.  Bhasma preparations and Bhasmas are the best
example of Nano technology & Nano medicine
practiced during the ancient period.
 Shata puta, Sahasra puta Bhasmas are the indirect
reference for the concept of conversion of drug to Nano
medicine.
 Ancient knowledge of Bhasmeekarana may cover the
current scientific validation of Nano Technology.
 More researches are essential in this direction to
establish ancient Nano Technology = BHASMA.
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19.  Nanotechnology is truly a new revolutionary
technology having its application in various fields.
 Nanotechnology provides the field of medicine with
promising hopes for assistance in diagnostic and
treatment technologies as well as improving quality of
life.
 Traditional method of ayurvedic bhasma preparation
involves top down approach of nanoparticle synthesis.
 Standardization of bhasmas has to be done on the basis
of particle size using nanotechnology.
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