Fabrication and characterisation of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles and SPPS-deposited cobalt ferrite splats prepared by sol-gel methods

Sol-gel techniques offer enhanced control over homogeneity, elemental composition and powder morphology. As well, uniformly nano-sized metal clusters can be achieved, which are crucial for enhancing the properties of the nanoparticles. These advantages make the sol-gel route a favourable alternative to other conventional methods for the preparation of ceramic oxide composites. The aim of this work is to develop novel multifunctional magnetic iron-based nanoparticles. It is intended that these so-formed nanomaterials will demonstrate antibacterial properties to fulfil the requirements of a drug delivery system so that the antibiotic concentration that is normally required may be minimized. For this purpose, cobalt ferrite nanoparticles have been synthesized by the sol-gel process using citric acid (CA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as chelating agents, and the effect of chelating agents on surface morphology, size distribution and antibacterial properties of the synthesized cobalt ferrite nanoparticles have been investigated. In addition, transition metal-substituted spinel ferrite nanoparticles (X0.5Y0.5Fe2O4 with X = Co, Mg, Mn, Zn; Y = Cu, Zn, Mn, and Ni) have been synthesized by the sol-gel process using citric acid as the chelating agent. The effect of substitution of these transition metals on surface morphology, size distribution, biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of the synthesized transition metals-substituted spinel ferrite nanoparticles have been investigated.