Green synthesis, characterization and application on the proanthocyanidins-functionalized Fe3O4 @ Ag nanoparticles

Proanthocyanidins-functionalized Fe3O4 @ Ag nanoparticles (Fe3O4 @ AgNPs) were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method wherein silver nanocrystals were grown in situ on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with the assistance of proanthocyanidins. The morphology and structure of Fe3O4 @ AgNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), UV–Vis spectrophotometer (UV–Vis), X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), and physical property measurement system (PPMS). The characterization results indicated that sliver nanocrystals were deposited on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles to form spherical and uniformly dispersed Fe3O4 @ AgNPs. Moreover, the Fe3O4 @ AgNPs had a high magnetic response, which can be recovered from the environment. The antibacterial activity of the Fe3O4 @ AgNPs against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Candida albicans (C. albicans) was investigated. The results confirmed that the Fe3O4 @ AgNPs had broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. At the same time, the adsorption property of the nanoparticles for heavy metal ions Cu2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ was also studied. The results showed that pH and incubation time played an essential role in the removal of heavy metal ions, and the nanoparticles had excellent removal efficiency. The multifunctional nanomaterial Fe3O4 @ AgNPs prepared by this study have the potential to apply in the biomedical and water disinfection fields.