Synthesis and characterization of the NiFe2O4@TEOS-TPS@Ag nanocomposite and investigation of its antibacterial activity

In this study, the NiFe2O4 was embedded in (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (TPS) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) using the sol-gel method. These compounds were used as the support of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The NiFe2O4@TEOS-TPS@Ag nanocomposites were obtained with the development of bonding between the silver atoms of Ag NPs and the sulfur atoms of TPS molecule. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used for the characterization of the Ag nanocomposites. Also, the magnetic properties of these nanocomposites were studied by using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) technique. The disk diffusion, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) tests were used for the investigation of the antibacterial effect of this nanocomposite against bacterial strains. The synthesized nanocomposite presented high reusability and good antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Remarkably, this nanocomposite could be easily removed from the disinfected media by magnetic decantation. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.