It is shown, for the first time, that small (ca. 2 nm) and stable platinum nanoparticles can be easily obtained in one step through visible light irradiation of a host-guest inclusion complex between beta-cyclodextrin and platinum acetylacetonate in a water solution. The exclusive control of the reaction by an external trigger, the removal of the undesired reaction products without any manipulation of the sample, and the absence of ionic repulsions between the metal nanoparticles represent the main remarkable advantages offered by this synthetic methodology.