Green nanotechnology developed at the University of Missouri is being studied with the goal of making a traditional form of holistic medicine more effective in fighting cancer. India-based company Dhanvantari Nano Ayushadi (DNA) is using an MU-developed green nanotechnology to explore new treatment options for breast cancer.
Ayurvedic medicine is a form of holistic medicine that uses a combination of chemicals derived from natural herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables, coupled with various metals such as gold, silver and copper. Gold or other alloys predominantly used in holistic medicine have been crushed and burned, and caregivers then grind the ash with herbs to produce an ingestible treatment. However, the ways in which those metals are obtained often involve potentially deadly toxins.