Design, fabrication, and evaluation of green mesoporous hollow magnetic spheres with antibacterial activity

Abstract

Hollow silica nanostructures are receiving more attention due to their special features such as low density and very high surface-to-volume ratio compared to other types of nanoparticles. In this research, an efficient method for the synthesis of hollow magnetic spheres with antibacterial properties is investigated. These hollow magnetic spheres are prepared in several steps and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Elemental mapping, High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques. Also, the antibacterial property of magnetic hollow spheres is investigated by the agar diffusion method on the Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Due to the high surface-to-volume ratio, their contact level with the surrounding environment is extremely high, which increases the effectiveness of their antibacterial properties. The results of FTIR bond analysis show that TEOS precursor particles established surface bonds with CTAB activators during the synthesis process, and the presence of Si–O–Si bonds in the range (600–1320 cm