
Regulating nanos in medical devices

Regulating nanos in medical devices
By the AVICENN team – Last modification April 2022
At the European level
In Europe, nanos in medical devices are regulated by Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and Council of 5 April 2017.
The definition of the term “nanomaterial” is close to that of the European definition “recommendation” of 2011. According to “Rule 19”, “All devices that incorporate or are made of a nanomaterial fall under:
- Class III if they have a medium or high internal exposure potential,
- Class IIb if they have a low potential for internal exposure, and
- Class IIa if they have negligible internal exposure potential.
It is unclear how the exposure potentials are evaluated…
– In French :
- Workshop on nanomedicines and nanomaterial-based medical devices, LNE, June 30, 2022
- Nanomaterials: special requirements for medical devices, LNE & DeviceMed, 22 April 2022
– In English:
In France
An ANSM report (published after 2017)1Nanomaterials in Medicines and Medical Device, ANSM, undated, it was written after 2017 recommends:
- to bring evolutions to the standardization and regulation for a better identification and evaluation of nanomedicines and medical devices
- to make changes to the R-nano register (converging with the demands of the precautionary and prevention actors)
- increased involvement of ANSM on the subject
- etc.
In the United States
In the United States, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations are published in the following document: Drug Products, Including Biological Products, that Contain Nanomaterials – Guidance for Industry, April 2022
Any questions or comments? This information sheet compiled by AVICENN is intended to be completed and updated. Please feel free to contribute.
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Upcoming Nano Agenda

- Citizen webinar for the general public and the university community.
- Organizers: Research department Law & Social transformation (DETS), University of Bordeaux
- Speakers:
- Marion Tissier-Raffin, Senior Lecturer in Public Law, Centre de recherche et de documentation européennes et internationales (CRDEI), University of Bordeaux
- Mathilde Detcheverry, General Delegate, Association AVICENN – Veillenanos
- Didier Morin, University Professor of Neuroscience, UMR CNRS INCIA, University of Bordeaux
- Website: https://dets.u-bordeaux.fr/animation-scientifique/webinaires-citoyens/saison-2024-2025

- 5th Joint Symposium on Nanotechnology
- Organizers: the Fraunhofer Nanotechnology Network, with the support of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)
- Date: May 13-14, 2025
- Topics:
- the application of nanotechnology in various sectors, including digitalization, 2D/3D printing, carbon-based materials and battery materials
- nano on various regulations (REACh, food contact materials, cosmetics, bioagents, PPPs)
- adaptation and development of OECD Test Guidelines for nano and advanced materials (Malta Initiative)
- review on nano-specific NAMs (new approach methodologies)
- when you’re nano and you know it: dealing with uncertainty regarding the nanomaterial definition in regulatory frameworks
- …
- Website: www.isc.fraunhofer.de/…2025/5th-symposium-nanotechnology.html
- 4-day training :
- the different routes by which toxic substances can enter the body
- the importance of toxicokinetics in preventing the toxicity of substances,
- the absorption, distribution, metabolisation and elimination of xenobiotics
- the toxicity of nanoparticles
- Organizer : Association Toxicologie Chimie (ATC)
- From May, 19 to May, 22
- Speakers :
- Frédéric Gaidou (Chemical engineer specialising in Toxicology, ERAMET Group, Paris, President ATC Paris)
- Sarah Dognin dit Cruissat (Doctor of Pharmacy, nutritionist, toxicochemist, CALMEVA, Lyon)
- Jean-Dominique Puyt (Veterinary Doctor, Honorary Professor at the École Vétérinaire, Nantes)
- Isabelle Malissin (Doctor, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris)
- Nicole Proust (Research Engineer, Honorary Director of Research at the CNRS, Specialist in Nanotechnologies, Arsenic, Electromagnetic Waves, Palaiseau)
- Marie-Chantal Canivenc-Lavier ((Nutri-toxicologist, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation INRA-Dijon)
- Claude Lesné (Doctor, Honorary Senior Research Engineer at the CNRS)
- Nicole Proust (Ingénieure Recherche, Directeur de recherche honoraire du CNRS, Spécialiste Nanotechnologies, Arsenic, Ondes électromagnétiques, Palaiseau)
- Website : https://www.atctoxicologie.fr/notre-formation.html
This sheet was originally created in February 2019
Notes and references
- 1Nanomaterials in Medicines and Medical Device, ANSM, undated, it was written after 2017