# Safe-by-design conception and synthesis of metallic nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Patrizio Benzo, Salomé Trillot, Ramanpreet Kaur, Nathalie Tarrat, Magali Benoit, Kremena Makasheva, Marie-José Casanove, Caroline Bonafos

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Patrizio Benzo, Salomé Trillot, Ramanpreet Kaur, Nathalie Tarrat, Magali Benoit, et al. Safe-by-design conception and synthesis of metallic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. International Conference of Advanced Materials – TERMEC 2025, Jun 2025, Tours, France. hal-05349297

HAL Id: hal-05349297

https://hal.science/hal-05349297v1

Submitted on 5 Nov 2025

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Safe-by-design conception and synthesis of metallic nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Patrizio Benzo<sup>1,a</sup>, Salomé Trillot<sup>1,b</sup>, Ramanpreet Kaur<sup>1,c</sup>, Nathalie Tarrat<sup>1,d</sup>, Magali Benoit<sup>1,e</sup>, Kremena Makasheva<sup>2,f</sup>, Marie-José Casanove<sup>1,g</sup> and Caroline Bonafos<sup>1,h</sup>

1 CEMES-CNRS and Université de Toulouse, 29 rue J. Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France

<sup>a</sup> patrizio.benzo@cemes.fr

<sup>b</sup> salome.trillot@cemes.fr

<sup>c</sup> ramanpreet.kaur@cemes.fr

<sup>d</sup> nathalie.tarrat@cemes.fr

<sup>e</sup> magali.benoit@cemes.fr

<sup>g</sup> marie-jose.casanove@cemes.fr

<sup>h</sup> caroline.bonafos@cemes.fr

2 LAPLACE, Université de Toulouse; UT3, INPT, CNRS; 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse cedex 9, France.

<sup>f</sup> kremena.makasheva@laplace.univ-tlse.fr

Corresponding Author: patrizio.benzo@cemes.fr

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are highly valued in biomedical fields due to their unique physicochemical properties, making them promising for diverse applications. However, large-scale implementation requires strategies to mitigate impacts on human health and to guarantee environmental safety. Beyond optimizing NP properties, "safer-by-design" approaches are essential.

This work introduces two "nano-safe by design" systems. The first one involves trimetallic (Fe, Rh, Au) nanoparticles synthesized by magnetron sputtering with controlled composition, crystalline quality, and chemical distribution. The FeRh core, exhibiting a magnetic transition near physiological temperatures (~310K), has significant biomedical potential (e.g., as a contrast agent or for drug delivery). A gold shell, grown epitaxially, ensures biocompatibility.

The second example features antibacterial AgNPs embedded in dielectric matrices for controlled Ag⁺ release, providing antimicrobial effects over adjustable periods (from days to months) while minimizing environmental impact. The synthesis involves two steps within an ultra-high-vacuum system: i) AgNPs are vapor-phase synthesized by magnetron sputtering, size-selected with a quadrupole mass filter (QMF), and deposited onto a silica layer thermally grown on Si-substrate; ii) a second silica layer is added via radio-frequency magnetron sputtering to cover the AgNPs. This approach allows a precise control over the NP number density, balancing effectively the available Ag⁺ reservoir for antibacterial action below toxicity thresholds, and positioning the AgNPs to finely tune the Ag⁺ release rates.

For both systems, synthesis processes and nanoparticle characteristics—size, density, crystalline structure, composition, and morphology—will be examined using transmission electron microscopy at atomic resolution. These properties will be correlated with synthesis parameters. Potential nucleation and growth mechanisms will be discussed for each system.

**Keywords:** nano-safe by design, metallic nanoparticles, nucleation and growth