Mujraparty
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A stream of nanotechnology (nanotech) based products is beginning to emerge in India with applications in the security realm. Besides DRDO, serious innovation is being effected by institutions like IIT Bombay and Madras University. DRDO is of course also acting as a sort of hinge for fostering research and development (R&D) in this area of activity. India's rising proficiency can also be gauged by the fact that a number of western entities are interested in partnering their Indian counterparts for joint R&D efforts in this sphere. However to truly translate the gains from this emerging eco-system more attention will have to be paid towards augmenting relevant manufacturing facilities in the country which will hasten the pace of prototyping. Because after all it is in these 'nano-foundries" that basic R&D can be turned into usable products and help convert the stream into a veritable deluge.
At the moment nano-science inspired creations are a 400 billion dollar industry globally and this is set to grow by several multiples in the next few decades. India has been somewhat of a latecomer to this trend but is now making serious efforts to make a mark in the field. Leading the charge have been R&D efforts by the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), the Department of Atomic Energy, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and other government institutes working in tandem with the likes of the IITs and the Indian Institute Of Science (IISc) Bangalore. The focus at the moment is on the materials and sensor side of things, although breakthroughs while exploring any one side of nanoscience more often than not prove attractive for a range of interests.
For instance a nanotech based drug delivery system developed by DRDO's Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) is being adopted by Cipla for its inhalers as this is expected to optimise and reduce the dosage required per inhalation considerably to treat a range of pulmonary complications. INMAS is supplying a drug formulation containing salbutamol sulphate (60 nm size) in inhalable lactose which is compatible for use with conventional inhaler devices such as the ones marketed by CIPLA. The nano-sized drug particles lead to direct alveolar deposition thereby facilitating greatly enhanced results for inhalation therapy. Incidentally this product was developed to help soldiers acclimatise faster in high altitude regions by leading to swift vasodilation of the lungs.
Such 'dual use' potential if it may be called that, seems to be a characteristic trait of nanoscience R&D and that is a key reason why research into security related applications has the potential to be a game changer for India's tech economy. At the moment, 30 of DRDO's 52 laboratories are engaged in nanotech based research. The organization has made an initial investment of some 40 million dollars into nanotech research and is looking to boost this while serving as a nodal body for both academia and industry to come together in the exploitation of nanoscience for both defence as well civilian purposes.
Till as late as 2007, nanotech was being pursued somewhat independently by a range of entities in India. But it is now clear that the country can do much better if these efforts are pooled leading to lower costs and compressed timeframes. IIT Bombay for instance has benefited greatly by tying up with DRDO's High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune for trialling its nano-materials based hand held explosive detection device.
IIT Bombay along with IISc, with whom it has formed the Indian Nanoelectric Users Program (INUP), has come up with a proprietary polymer micro-cantilever sensor platform which uses a piezo-resistive layer to detect explosive vapours extant in the vicinity of conventional explosives. This sensor platform has been used as the basis to build a hand held device being marketed by INUP's technology startup called Nanosniff. Nanosniff's explosive detector was tested against numerous explosives at HEMRL to check its effectiveness. Such trials while seemingly simple are actually quite complex and require specialist material handling and calibration expertise of the kind that HEMRL brings to the table. Interestingly a standalone version of this device which can be installed in public transport vehicles has also been envisaged. Such a device is expected to be powered using piezoelectric surfaces that can convert the mechanical energy released from the vibration of moving vehicles into electrical energy.
Interestingly piezoelectric properties of nano-materials are also being used by DRDO's Solid State Physics Laboratory(SSPL) to develop energy supply solutions that lead to greater soldier autonomy and endurance on the battlefield. SSPL is carrying out research on generating electricity from the shoes and garments soldiers wear by coating them with piezoelectric material that would convert mechanical energy into electrical energy as they move and this can be used to power say, health monitoring systems integrated with the soldier's outfit or locational devices built into his helmet. However this research is still in the laboratory stage and perhaps SSPL can join hands with IIT Bombay to expedite matters given the convergent aims.
Miniaturized health monitoring systems themselves are however rapidly moving towards productionization.
Nano-electrodes for vital signs monitoring and bio-sensors being developed by the Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bangalore are nearing commercialization. These innovations will change the face of battlefield care and have the obvious potential to save lives during a conflict. Related to this is the development of silver nano-particle (NP) coated garments that being bacteriophobic would allow soldiers to operate in a zone subjected to germ warfare.
The earliest NP based products from the DRDO stable however have been in the 'material' side of things. For instance the Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar has developed corrosion resistive coatings by using metal carbon nano-tube (CNT) laced metal nanocomposites. These nanocomposites are also being used to lower the weight of aerospace structures which is helping India's strategic missile program considerably. High barrier nanocomposites are also being used by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore for new generation food packaging systems that can keep food safe even in extreme conditions for long periods of time.
DRDO is also bringing nanotechnology to bear in supporting the development of new products related to detecting and mitigating the hazards of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) warfare. DEBEL is creating CNT bio-sensors that enable speedier detection of biological warfare agents. The Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior has made a nanotech augmented chemical de-contaminant and an expression of interest was floated last year for procuring a spray device suitable for this de-contaminant. The Center for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi is also close to commercializing NP based absorbents for toxic and hazardous waste. Meanwhile new generation CBRN suits with NP thermo-electric coatings are being researched by SSPL as mentioned above.
Given the level of activity it is not surprising that CBRN threat related research is a segment where countries such as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) have the greatest interest in partnering with DRDO. While DRDO is currently engaged in discussions with the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) on CBRN issues, it already has an MOU with the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to jointly develop CBRN related products.
But even as a spread of products begins to emerge from nanotech research in India, there are now concerns about the toxicity effects of nanomaterials. The Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi along with INMAS is now actively researching the toxicity effects of NP. In fact this is also one of the areas where DRDO is increasingly teaming up with foreign organisations pursuing nanotech research. For example, DIPAS and the US Airforce Research Laboratory (AFRL) are jointly investigating the toxicity effects of zinc oxide NP, a rather popular compound in nanotech applications.
Clearly domestic R&D both standalone and with international collaboration has begun to quicken but to sustain this momentum and emerge as a nanotech powerhouse, industrial capabilities within India have to be brought up to speed. This would involve the creation of facilities that allow rapid prototyping as well as research into reducing the cost of producing nano-materials.
Fortunately the some movement on the manufacturing side of things has already taken place. In IIT Bombay's in-house foundry a tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) based ultraviolet (UV) photolithography process was used to build the Nanosniff chemical explosive detection sensor platform which did away with more conventional and expensive laser dicing and dry etching processes. A lowering of costs was brought about due to the fact that TMAH based UV photolithography is a wet etching process which obviates the need to generate extreme temperatures or pressure, which can be an expensive proposition. It must be noted that IIT Bombay's nano-fabrication unit is a national facility and is open to a network of researchers from across India.
DRDO in keeping with its stated desire of boosting nanotech development in the country is making an investment of about 200 million dollars for a new national nano-foundry which will be based at the National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NCNN), Madras University. Again, this facility will be made available to both academia and industry on a time sharing basis. Incidentally NCNN is also at the centre of India's new bio-defence policy with its laboratory developing procedures and technology for continuous soil and atmosphere tests to measure toxicity on a real time basis.
While the institutional approach is certainly continuing apace, Indian industry must move quicker to take advantage of the nanotech sunrise in the country. At the moment only very big players such as Reliance Industries, Tata Chemicals, Mahindra and Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Asian Paints, Crompton Greaves etc have put in place programmes for nanomaterials individually or in collaboration with academic institutions. It is time that small and medium scale enterprises also started to partake in the shift that is underway. In this context, the draft nanoscience and nanotechnology policy being weaved by DRDO in partnership with the National Manufacturing Competitive Council will make an interesting reading indeed.
Saurav Jha's Blog : Small is powerful: Nanotechnology based security applications in India
At the moment nano-science inspired creations are a 400 billion dollar industry globally and this is set to grow by several multiples in the next few decades. India has been somewhat of a latecomer to this trend but is now making serious efforts to make a mark in the field. Leading the charge have been R&D efforts by the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), the Department of Atomic Energy, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and other government institutes working in tandem with the likes of the IITs and the Indian Institute Of Science (IISc) Bangalore. The focus at the moment is on the materials and sensor side of things, although breakthroughs while exploring any one side of nanoscience more often than not prove attractive for a range of interests.
For instance a nanotech based drug delivery system developed by DRDO's Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) is being adopted by Cipla for its inhalers as this is expected to optimise and reduce the dosage required per inhalation considerably to treat a range of pulmonary complications. INMAS is supplying a drug formulation containing salbutamol sulphate (60 nm size) in inhalable lactose which is compatible for use with conventional inhaler devices such as the ones marketed by CIPLA. The nano-sized drug particles lead to direct alveolar deposition thereby facilitating greatly enhanced results for inhalation therapy. Incidentally this product was developed to help soldiers acclimatise faster in high altitude regions by leading to swift vasodilation of the lungs.
Such 'dual use' potential if it may be called that, seems to be a characteristic trait of nanoscience R&D and that is a key reason why research into security related applications has the potential to be a game changer for India's tech economy. At the moment, 30 of DRDO's 52 laboratories are engaged in nanotech based research. The organization has made an initial investment of some 40 million dollars into nanotech research and is looking to boost this while serving as a nodal body for both academia and industry to come together in the exploitation of nanoscience for both defence as well civilian purposes.
Till as late as 2007, nanotech was being pursued somewhat independently by a range of entities in India. But it is now clear that the country can do much better if these efforts are pooled leading to lower costs and compressed timeframes. IIT Bombay for instance has benefited greatly by tying up with DRDO's High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune for trialling its nano-materials based hand held explosive detection device.
IIT Bombay along with IISc, with whom it has formed the Indian Nanoelectric Users Program (INUP), has come up with a proprietary polymer micro-cantilever sensor platform which uses a piezo-resistive layer to detect explosive vapours extant in the vicinity of conventional explosives. This sensor platform has been used as the basis to build a hand held device being marketed by INUP's technology startup called Nanosniff. Nanosniff's explosive detector was tested against numerous explosives at HEMRL to check its effectiveness. Such trials while seemingly simple are actually quite complex and require specialist material handling and calibration expertise of the kind that HEMRL brings to the table. Interestingly a standalone version of this device which can be installed in public transport vehicles has also been envisaged. Such a device is expected to be powered using piezoelectric surfaces that can convert the mechanical energy released from the vibration of moving vehicles into electrical energy.
Interestingly piezoelectric properties of nano-materials are also being used by DRDO's Solid State Physics Laboratory(SSPL) to develop energy supply solutions that lead to greater soldier autonomy and endurance on the battlefield. SSPL is carrying out research on generating electricity from the shoes and garments soldiers wear by coating them with piezoelectric material that would convert mechanical energy into electrical energy as they move and this can be used to power say, health monitoring systems integrated with the soldier's outfit or locational devices built into his helmet. However this research is still in the laboratory stage and perhaps SSPL can join hands with IIT Bombay to expedite matters given the convergent aims.
Miniaturized health monitoring systems themselves are however rapidly moving towards productionization.
Nano-electrodes for vital signs monitoring and bio-sensors being developed by the Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bangalore are nearing commercialization. These innovations will change the face of battlefield care and have the obvious potential to save lives during a conflict. Related to this is the development of silver nano-particle (NP) coated garments that being bacteriophobic would allow soldiers to operate in a zone subjected to germ warfare.
The earliest NP based products from the DRDO stable however have been in the 'material' side of things. For instance the Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar has developed corrosion resistive coatings by using metal carbon nano-tube (CNT) laced metal nanocomposites. These nanocomposites are also being used to lower the weight of aerospace structures which is helping India's strategic missile program considerably. High barrier nanocomposites are also being used by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore for new generation food packaging systems that can keep food safe even in extreme conditions for long periods of time.
DRDO is also bringing nanotechnology to bear in supporting the development of new products related to detecting and mitigating the hazards of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) warfare. DEBEL is creating CNT bio-sensors that enable speedier detection of biological warfare agents. The Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior has made a nanotech augmented chemical de-contaminant and an expression of interest was floated last year for procuring a spray device suitable for this de-contaminant. The Center for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi is also close to commercializing NP based absorbents for toxic and hazardous waste. Meanwhile new generation CBRN suits with NP thermo-electric coatings are being researched by SSPL as mentioned above.
Given the level of activity it is not surprising that CBRN threat related research is a segment where countries such as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) have the greatest interest in partnering with DRDO. While DRDO is currently engaged in discussions with the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) on CBRN issues, it already has an MOU with the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to jointly develop CBRN related products.
But even as a spread of products begins to emerge from nanotech research in India, there are now concerns about the toxicity effects of nanomaterials. The Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi along with INMAS is now actively researching the toxicity effects of NP. In fact this is also one of the areas where DRDO is increasingly teaming up with foreign organisations pursuing nanotech research. For example, DIPAS and the US Airforce Research Laboratory (AFRL) are jointly investigating the toxicity effects of zinc oxide NP, a rather popular compound in nanotech applications.
Clearly domestic R&D both standalone and with international collaboration has begun to quicken but to sustain this momentum and emerge as a nanotech powerhouse, industrial capabilities within India have to be brought up to speed. This would involve the creation of facilities that allow rapid prototyping as well as research into reducing the cost of producing nano-materials.
Fortunately the some movement on the manufacturing side of things has already taken place. In IIT Bombay's in-house foundry a tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) based ultraviolet (UV) photolithography process was used to build the Nanosniff chemical explosive detection sensor platform which did away with more conventional and expensive laser dicing and dry etching processes. A lowering of costs was brought about due to the fact that TMAH based UV photolithography is a wet etching process which obviates the need to generate extreme temperatures or pressure, which can be an expensive proposition. It must be noted that IIT Bombay's nano-fabrication unit is a national facility and is open to a network of researchers from across India.
DRDO in keeping with its stated desire of boosting nanotech development in the country is making an investment of about 200 million dollars for a new national nano-foundry which will be based at the National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NCNN), Madras University. Again, this facility will be made available to both academia and industry on a time sharing basis. Incidentally NCNN is also at the centre of India's new bio-defence policy with its laboratory developing procedures and technology for continuous soil and atmosphere tests to measure toxicity on a real time basis.
While the institutional approach is certainly continuing apace, Indian industry must move quicker to take advantage of the nanotech sunrise in the country. At the moment only very big players such as Reliance Industries, Tata Chemicals, Mahindra and Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Asian Paints, Crompton Greaves etc have put in place programmes for nanomaterials individually or in collaboration with academic institutions. It is time that small and medium scale enterprises also started to partake in the shift that is underway. In this context, the draft nanoscience and nanotechnology policy being weaved by DRDO in partnership with the National Manufacturing Competitive Council will make an interesting reading indeed.
Saurav Jha's Blog : Small is powerful: Nanotechnology based security applications in India
