Physio-chemical characterization, in-vitro biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity of magnetite nanoparticles synthesized via sol-gel route

In the present study, the biocompatibility of the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles was examined for biomedical applications. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed good antimicrobial activity and better biocompatibility with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and red blood cells. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol-gel route. The x-ray diffraction pattern of the Magnetite sample showed single-phase crystalline with a hexagonal spinel structure and the lattice parameters are a = b = 5.0360 & ANGS; and c = 13.747 & ANGS;. The Debye Scherer formula was used to analyze the average crystallite size (36.56 nm). The dumbbell and near-spherical morphology (80-200 nm average particle size) were observed by field emission electron microscopy followed by transmission electron microscopy analysis. The vibrating sample magnetometer analysis depicted the magnetic characteristics of the spinel ferrite as 66.15 emu/g of saturation magnetization. The antimicrobial assay revealed a significant zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.