Damien MERTZ

Damien MERTZ

Researcher, Inorganic Materials Chemistry (DCMI)Damien.Mertz@ipcms.unistra.fr
Tél: +33(0)3 88 10 71 90Bureau: 3004

Research activity

My research activity is focused on the design of nanomaterials for health applications, in particular the chemical engineering of activable mesoporous silica nanocomposites.

The aim is to bring to such composite nanomaterials relevant properties such as specific molecular functions of targeting and imaging, but also localized hyperthermia combined with drug delivery etc..

These theranostic nanomaterials are aimed for different biomedical applications for instance to fight cancer, stroke, or renal insufficiency.

      Research background

      2018 : Habilitation for research direction (HDR), University of Strasbourg, France

      Since 2013: CNRS researcher (Chargé de recherche) at IPCMS, University of Strasbourg, France

      2011 – 2013: Postdoctoral fellowship, INSERM and IHU Strasbourg

      2009 – 2011 : Postdoctoral fellowship, University of Melbourne, Australia,

      2008 : PhD in Physical Chemistry, University of Strasbourg

      2005 : M.Sc. in Polymers, Materials and Surfaces, University of Strasbourg

      2004 : Agrégation de Sciences Physiques, option Chimie

      Projects

      ANR-PRC (01/12/2024-01/12/2028) ISCHeMAG : Theranostic treatment of ischemic stroke using magnetic hyperthermia. Project coordinator : Dr D. Mertz / Partner 1 : CNRS-LPCNO Toulouse (Dr C. Nayral) Partner 2 : INSERM U1237 Laboratoire PhInD Caen (Dr T. Bonnard).

      Project Inter Carnot (01/04/2023- 31/12/2025) NANO-BIOCITIES : Nano-biocomposites at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions. Projet between IPCMS et le LCPME Nancy. Investigators : Dr D. Mertz (IPCMS), Dr G. Herzog and Dr M. Dossot (LCPME)

      Projet MSCA Staff Exchange (01/01/2024-31/12/2027) DELIGHT : Designing of Multifunctional Nanomaterials for Light-Driven Innovation Technologies. Coordinator : Dr R. Krahne IIT – Genova, Italie.

      Publications

      [1]
      C. Wells, O. Vollin-Bringel, V. Fiegel, S. Harlepp, B. Van der Schueren, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Bégin, D. Mertz, Engineering of Mesoporous Silica Coated Carbon-Based Materials Optimized for an Ultrahigh Doxorubicin Payload and a Drug Release Activated by pH, T, and NIR-light, Advanced Functional Materials 28 (2018) 1706996. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201706996.
      [1]
      X.-Y. Wang, D. Mertz, C. Blanco-Andujar, A. Bora, M. Menard, F. Meyer, C. Giraudeau, S. Bégin-Colin, Optimizing the silanization of thermally-decomposed iron oxide nanoparticles for efficient aqueous phase transfer and MRI applications, RSC Advances 6 (2016) 93784–93793. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra18360c.
      [1]
      J. Wallyn, N. Anton, D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, F. Perton, C.A. Serra, F. Franconi, L. Lemaire, M. Chiper, H. Libouban, N. Messaddeq, H. Anton, T.F. Vandamme, Magnetite- and Iodine-Containing Nanoemulsion as a Dual Modal Contrast Agent for X-ray/Magnetic Resonance Imaging, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11 (2019) 403–416. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b19517.
      [1]
      F. Vergnaud, X. Kesse, A. Jacobs, F. Perton, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, S. Descamps, C. Vichery, J.-M. Nedelec, Magnetic bioactive glass nano-heterostructures: a deeper insight into magnetic hyperthermia properties in the scope of bone cancer treatment, Biomaterials Science 10 (2022) 3993–4007. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2bm00319h.
      [1]
      Y. Rosales-Cabara, G. Manfredi, G. Schnoering, P.-A. Hervieux, L. Mertz, C. Genet, Optimal protocols and universal time-energy bound in Brownian thermodynamics, Physical Review Research 2 (2020) 012012. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.012012.
      [1]
      P.D. Ramirez, C. Lee, R. Fedderwitz, A.R. Clavijo, D.P.P. Barbosa, M. Julliot, J. Vaz-Ramos, D. Begin, S. Le Calve, A. Zaloszyc, P. Choquet, M.A.G. Soler, D. Mertz, P. Kofinas, Y. Piao, S. Bégin-Colin, Phosphate Capture Enhancement Using Designed Iron Oxide-Based Nanostructures., Nanomaterials 13 (2023) 587. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030587.
      [1]
      F. Perton, M. Palluel, C. Kiefer, B. Freis, D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, One Pot Synthesis of Dithiolane Dendron Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2021 (2021) 4286–4297. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202100650.
      [1]
      F. Perton, G. Cotin, C. Kiefer, J.-M. Strub, S. Cianferani, J.-M. Greneche, N. Parizel, B. Heinrich, B. Pichon, D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, Iron Stearate Structures: An Original Tool for Nanoparticles Design, Inorganic Chemistry 60 (2021) 12445–12456. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c01689.
      [1]
      F. Perton, S. Harlepp, G. Follain, K. Parkhomenko, J.G. Goetz, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, Wrapped stellate silica nanocomposites as biocompatible luminescent nanoplatforms assessed in vivo, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 542 (2019) 469–482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2019.01.098.
      [1]
      F. Perton, M. Tasso, G.A. Munoz Medina, M. Menard, C. Blanco-Andujar, E. Portiansky, M.B. Fernandez van Raap, D. Begin, F. Meyer, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, Fluorescent and magnetic stellate mesoporous silica for bimodal imaging and magnetic hyperthermia, Applied Materials Today 16 (2019) 301–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmt.2019.06.006.
      [1]
      J.R. Orives, B.P. Pichon, D. Mertz, K. Sartori, S. Bégin-Colin, W.R. Viali, S.J. Lima Ribeiro, M. Nalin, Phosphate glasses containing monodisperse Fe3-delta O4@SiO2 stellate nanoparticles obtained by melt-quenching process, Ceramics International 46 (2020) 12120–12127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.01.257.
      [1]
      A. Mohanty, C.D. Viet, A.-C. Roger, A. Adam, D. Mertz, W. Baaziz, I. Janowska, Structural impact of carbon nanofibers/few-layer-graphene substrate decorated with Ni for CO2 methanation via inductive heating, Applied Catalysis B-Environmental 298 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120589.
      [1]
      D. Mertz, S. Harlepp, J. Goetz, D. Begin, G. Schlatter, S. Bégin-Colin, A. Hebraud, Nanocomposite Polymer Scaffolds Responding under External Stimuli for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering Applications, Advanced Therapeutics 3 (2020) 1900143. https://doi.org/10.1002/adtp.201900143.
      [1]
      D. Mertz, O. Sandre, S. Bégin-Colin, Drug releasing nanoplatforms activated by alternating magnetic fields, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-General Subjects 1861 (2017) 1617–1641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.02.025.
      [1]
      D. Mertz, C. Affolter-Zbaraszczuk, J. Barthes, J. Cui, F. Caruso, T.F. Baumert, J.-C. Voegel, J. Ogier, F. Meyer, Templated assembly of albumin-based nanoparticles for simultaneous gene silencing and magnetic resonance imaging, Nanoscale 6 (2014) 11676–11680. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4nr02623c.
      [1]
      D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, Encapsulation and Release of Drugs from Magnetic Silica Nanocomposites, in: N. Thanh (Ed.), CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES: DESIGN TO DIAGNOSIS MANUFACTURING TO MEDICINE / Edited by N.T.K. Thanh, 2018: pp. 161–172. 10.1201/9781315168258.
      [1]
      M. Menard, F. Meyer, C. Affolter-Zbaraszczuk, M. Rabineau, A. Adam, P.D. Ramirez, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, Design of hybrid protein-coated magnetic core-mesoporous silica shell nanocomposites for MRI and drug release assessed in a 3D tumor cell model, Nanotechnology 30 (2019) 174001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/aafe1c.
      [1]
      M. Ménard, F. Meyer, K. Parkhomenko, C. Leuvrey, G. Francius, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, Mesoporous silica templated-albumin nanoparticles with high doxorubicin payload for drug delivery assessed with a 3-D tumor cell model, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects 1863 (2019) 332–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.10.020.
      [1]
      S. Martinez de Lizarrondo, C. Jacqmarcq, M. Naveau, M. Navarro-Oviedo, S. Pedron, A. Adam, B. Freis, S. Allouche, D. Goux, S. Razafindrakoto, F. Gazeau, D. Mertz, D. Vivien, T. Bonnard, M. Gauberti, Tracking the immune response by MRI using biodegradable and ultrasensitive microprobes., Science Advances 8 (2022) eabm3596. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm3596.
      [1]
      B. Li, A. Adam, M. Criado-Gonzalez, L. Jierry, J. Bizeau, A. Chaumont, S. Harlepp, C. Melart, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Begin, D. Mertz, Near-infrared responsive nanocomposite hydrogels made from enzyme-coated carbon nanotubes@ large pore mesoporous silica for remotely triggered drug delivery, Materialia 22 (2022) 101414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2022.101414.
      [1]
      B. Li, M. Criado-Gonzalez, A. Adam, J. Bizeau, C. Melart, A. Carvalho, S. Bégin, D. Begin, L. Jierry, D. Mertz, Peptide Hydrogels Assembled from Enzyme-Adsorbed Mesoporous Silica Nanostructures for Thermoresponsive Doxorubicin Release, ACS Applied Nano Materials 5 (2022) 120–125. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.1c03959.
      [1]
      B. Li, S. Harlepp, V. Gensbittel, C.J.R. Wells, O. Bringel, J.G. Goetz, S. Bégin-Colin, M. Tasso, D. Begin, D. Mertz, Near infra-red light responsive carbon nanotubes@mesoporous silica for photothermia and drug delivery to cancer cells, Materials Today Chemistry 17 (2020) 100308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtchem.2020.100308.
      [1]
      X. Kesse, A. Adam, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, E. Larquet, T. Gacoin, I. Maurin, C. Vichery, J.-M. Nedelec, Elaboration of Superparamagnetic and Bioactive Multicore–Shell Nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3@SiO2-CaO): A Promising Material for Bone Cancer Treatment, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 12 (2020) 47820–47830. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c12769.
      [1]
      K. Katcko, E. Urbain, F. Ngassam, L. Kandpal, B. Chowrira, F. Schleicher, U. Halisdemir, D. Wang, T. Scherer, D. Mertz, B. Leconte, N. Beyer, D. Spor, P. Panissod, A. Boulard, J. Arabski, C. Kieber, E. Sternitzky, V. Costa, M. Hehn, F. Montaigne, A. Bahouka, W. Weber, E. Beaurepaire, C. Kubel, D. Lacour, M. Alouani, S. Boukari, M. Bowen, Encoding Information on the Excited State of a Molecular Spin Chain, Advanced Functional Materials 31 (2021) 2009467. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202009467.
      [1]
      R. Hachani, M. Lowdell, M. Birchall, A. Hervault, D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, N.T.K. Thanh, Polyol synthesis, functionalisation, and biocompatibility studies of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as potential MRI contrast agents, Nanoscale 8 (2016) 3278–3287. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5nr03867g.
      [1]
      D.S.B. Gomes, L.G. Paterno, A.B.S. Santos, D.P.P. Barbosa, B.M. Holtz, M.R. Souza, R.Q. Moraes-Souza, A.V. Garay, L.R. de Andrade, P.P.C. Sartoratto, D. Mertz, G.T. Volpato, S.M. Freitas, M.A.G. Soler, UV-Accelerated Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticle-Pluronic Nanocomposites for X-ray Computed Tomography Contrast Enhancement., Polymers 15 (2023) 2163. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15092163.
      [1]
      D.S.B. Gomes, L.G. Paterno, A.B.S. Santos, A. Garay V., D. Mertz, S.M. Freitas, M.A.G. Soler, New insights on the formation of gold nanoparticles and Pluronic nanocomposites: Kinetics and thermodynamics parameters, in: Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2018: pp. 181–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2018.07.042.
      [1]
      F. Gelle, R. Chirita, D. Mertz, M.V. Rastei, A. Dinia, S. Colis, Guideline to atomically flat TiO2-terminated SrTiO3(001) surfaces, Surface Science 677 (2018) 39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susc.2018.06.001.
      [1]
      B. Freis, C. Kiefer, M. de los A. Ramirez, S. Harlepp, D. Mertz, B. Pichon, C. Iacovita, S. Laurent, S. Bégin, Defects or no defects? Or how to design 20-25 nm spherical iron oxide nanoparticles to harness both magnetic hyperthermia and photothermia, Nanoscale 16 (2024) 20542–20555. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4nr01397b.
      [1]
      B. Freis, M.D.L.Á. Ramírez, S. Furgiuele, F. Journe, C. Cheignon, L.J. Charbonnière, C. Henoumont, C. Kiefer, D. Mertz, C. Affolter-Zbaraszczuk, F. Meyer, S. Saussez, S. Laurent, M. Tasso, S. Bégin-Colin, Bioconjugation studies of an EGF-R targeting ligand on dendronized iron oxide nanoparticles to target head and neck cancer cells, International Journal of Pharmaceutics 635 (2023) 122654. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122654.
      [1]
      V. Fiegel, S. Harlepp, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Bégin, D. Mertz, Design of Protein-Coated Carbon Nanotubes Loaded with Hydrophobic Drugs through Sacrificial Templating of Mesoporous Silica Shells, Chemistry-a European Journal 24 (2018) 4662–4670. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201705845.
      [1]
      Z. Ferjaoui, S. Nahle, R. Schneider, H. Kerdjoudj, D. Mertz, F. Quiles, K. Ferji, E. Gaffet, H. Alem, Development of Folate-Superparamagnetic Nanoconjugates for Inhibition of Cancer Cell Proliferation, Advanced Materials Interfaces 10 (2023) 2202364. https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202202364.
      [1]
      Z. Ferjaoui, E.J. Al Dine, A. Kulmukhamedova, L. Bezdetnaya, C.S. Chan, R. Schneider, F. Mutelet, D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, F. Quiles, E. Gaffet, H. Alem, Doxorubicin-Loaded Thermoresponsive Superparamagnetic Nanocarriers for Controlled Drug Delivery and Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11 (2019) 30610–30620. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b10444.
      [1]
      P. Duenas-Ramirez, C. Bertagnolli, R. Weiss, J. Bizeau, L. Jierry, P. Choquet, A. Zaloszyc, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, Grafting of Crown Ether and Cryptand Macrocycles on Large Pore Stellate Mesoporous Silica for Sodium Cation Extraction., Molecules 28 (2023) 4622. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28124622.
      [1]
      P. Duenas-Ramirez, C. Bertagnolli, R. Muller, K. Sartori, A. Boos, M. Elhabiri, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, Highly chelating stellate mesoporous silica nanoparticles for specific iron removal from biological media, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 579 (2020) 140–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.06.013.
      [1]
      M. Diana, P. Halvax, D. Mertz, A. Legner, J.-M. Brule, E. Robinet, D. Mutter, P. Pessaux, J. Marescaux, Improving Echo-Guided Procedures Using an Ultrasound-CT Image Fusion System, Surgical Innovation 22 (2015) 217–222. https://doi.org/10.1177/1553350615577483.
      [1]
      G. Cotin, B. Heinrich, F. Perton, C. Kiefer, G. Francius, D. Mertz, B. Freis, B. Pichon, J.-M. Strub, S. Cianférani, N. Ortiz Peña, D. Ihiawakrim, D. Portehault, O. Ersen, A. Khammari, M. Picher, F. Banhart, C. Sanchez, S. Bégin-Colin, A Confinement-Driven Nucleation Mechanism of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Obtained via Thermal Decomposition in Organic Media, Small (2022) 2200414. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202200414.
      [1]
      G. Cotin, F. Perton, C. Blanco-Andujar, B. Pichon, D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, Design of Anisotropic Iron-Oxide-Based Nanoparticles for Magnetic Hyperthermia, in: R. Fratila, J. DeLaFuente (Eds.), NANOMATERIALS FOR MAGNETIC AND OPTICAL HYPERTHERMIA APPLICATIONS / Editd by R.M. Fratila & J.M. De La Fuente, 2019: pp. 41–60. 10.1016/B978-0-12-813928-8.00002-8.
      [1]
      G. Cotin, C. Kiefer, F. Perton, M. Boero, B. Özdamar, A. Bouzid, G. Ori, C. Massobrio, D. Begin, B. Pichon, D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, Evaluating the Critical Roles of Precursor Nature and Water Content When Tailoring Magnetic Nanoparticles for Specific Applications, ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 1 (2018) 4306–4316. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.8b01123.
      [1]
      G. Cotin, C. Kiefer, F. Perton, D. Ihiawakrim, C. Blanco-Andujar, S. Moldovan, C. Lefèvre, O. Ersen, B. Pichon, D. Mertz, S. Bégin-Colin, Unravelling the Thermal Decomposition Parameters for The Synthesis of Anisotropic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, Nanomaterials 8 (2018) 881. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano8110881.
      [1]
      G. Cotin, C. Blanco-Andujar, F. Perton, L. Asin, J.M. de la Fuente, W. Reichardt, D. Schaffner, D.-V. Ngyen, D. Mertz, C. Kiefer, F. Meyer, S. Spassov, O. Ersen, M. Chatzidakis, G.A. Botton, C. Henoumont, S. Laurent, J.-M. Greneche, F.J. Teran, D. Ortega, D. Felder-Flesch, S. Bégin-Colin, Unveiling the role of surface, size, shape and defects of iron oxide nanoparticles for theranostic applications, Nanoscale 13 (2021) 14552–14571. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1nr03335b.
      [1]
      G. Cotin, F. Perton, C. Petit, S. Sall, C. Kiefer, V. Begin, B. Pichon, C. Lefèvre, D. Mertz, J.-M. Greneche, S. Bégin-Colin, Harnessing Composition of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle: Impact of Solvent-Mediated Ligand-Ligand Interaction and Competition between Oxidation and Growth Kinetics, Chemistry of Materials 32 (2020) 9245–9259. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c03041.
      [1]
      G. Cotin, C. Blanco-Andujar, D.-V. Nguyen, C. Affolter, S. Boutry, A. Boos, P. Ronot, B. Uring-Lambert, P. Choquet, P.E. Zorn, D. Mertz, S. Laurent, R.N. Muller, F. Meyer, D.F. Flesch, S. Bégin-Colin, Dendron based antifouling, MRI and magnetic hyperthermia properties of different shaped iron oxide nanoparticles, Nanotechnology 30 (2019) 374002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/ab2998.
      [1]
      B. Chowrira, L. Kandpal, M. Lamblin, F. Ngassam, C.-A. Kouakou, T. Zafar, D. Mertz, B. Vileno, C. Kieber, G. Versini, B. Gobaut, L. Joly, T. Ferté, E. Monteblanco, A. Bahouka, R. Bernard, S. Mohapatra, H. Prima Garcia, S. Elidrissi, M. Gavara, E. Sternitzky, V. Da Costa, M. Hehn, F. Montaigne, F. Choueikani, P. Ohresser, D. Lacour, W. Weber, S. Boukari, M. Alouani, M. Bowen, Quantum Advantage in a Molecular Spintronic Engine that Harvests Thermal Fluctuation Energy., Advanced Materials 34 (2022) e2206688. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202206688.
      [1]
      C. Blanco-Andujar, A. Walter, G. Cotin, C. Bordeianu, D. Mertz, D. Felder-Flesch, S. Bégin-Colin, Design of iron oxide-based nanoparticles for MRI and magnetic hyperthermia, Nanomedicine 11 (2016) 1889–1910. https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm-2016-5001.
      [1]
      J. Bizeau, J. Journaux-Duclos, C. Kiefer, B. Freis, D. Ihiawakrim, M. de L.A. Ramirez, T. Lucante, K. Parkhomenko, C. Vichery, J. Carrey, O. Sandre, C. Bertagnolli, O. Ersen, S. Bégin-Colin, V. Gigoux, D. Mertz, Tailoring the pore structure of iron oxide core@stellate mesoporous silica shell nanocomposites: effects on MRI and magnetic hyperthermia properties and applicability to anti-cancer therapies., Nanoscale 16 (2024) 15585–15614. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4nr01388c.
      [1]
      J. Bizeau, M. Rabineau, J. Buisson, T. Lucante, C. Leuvrey, K. Parkhomenko, P. Lavalle, D. Mertz, Powerful Protein Nanoreservoirs Based on Stellate Mesoporous Silica Embedded in Composite Hydrogels: From Burst Release to Retention, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics (2024) 2400035. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400035.
      [1]
      J. Bizeau, A. Adam, C. Nadal, G. Francius, D. Siniscalco, M. Pauly, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, Protein sustained release from isobutyramide-grafted stellate mesoporous silica nanoparticles., International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X 4 (2022) 100130–100130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpx.2022.100130.
      [1]
      J. Bizeau, A. Adam, S. Bégin-Colin, D. Mertz, Serum Albumin Antifouling Effects of Hydroxypropyl-Cellulose and Pluronic F127 Adsorbed on Isobutyramide-Grafted Stellate Silica Nanoparticles, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry (2021) 4799–4805. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202100678.
      [1]
      J. Bizeau, D. Mertz, Design and applications of protein delivery systems in nanomedicine and tissue engineering, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 287 (2021) 102334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2020.102334.