Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt-Doped Ferrites for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Novel materials for biomedical applications are in critical need of time. In the present work, the antibacterial properties of Co1−xNixMgxFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are assessed by the disc diffusion method for the common pathogen, that is, Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Overnight grown bacterial cultures were individually lawn-cultured on nutrient agar plates. All samples of NP concentrations (2 mg/mL) were prepared in sterile water and dispensed by sonication. Sterile filter paper discs (1.0 mm) were saturated by the (doped CoFe2O4) NP solution and incubated at 37 ± 0.1 °C for 24 h. The NPs with a fine size of 30−70 nm of Co1−xNixMgxFe2O4 were achieved using the sol−gel method by doping CoFe2O4 initially with Ni and codoping with Mg, and their properties were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared techniques. According to the results, Co0.5Ni0.25Mg0.25Fe2O4 NPs exhibited potent antibacterial activities against s. aureus having an inhibition zone of 6.5 mm and P. aeruginosa having an inhibition zone of 6 mm as that were examined. The result shows that the bacteriostatic properties of NPs are used for numerous applications such as hyperthermia, antibacterial treatments, and targeted drug delivery.