Synthesis and antibacterial activity of a Fe3O4–AgCl nanocomposite against Escherichia coli

In this investigation, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by the alkalinization of an aqueous medium containing ferrous sulfate and ferric chloride. In the next step, a Fe3O4–AgCl magnetic nanocomposite was fabricated by the drop-by-drop addition of silver nitrate solution into a NaCl solution containing Fe3O4 MNPs. All prepared nanoparticles were characterized by transition electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Both particle types varied in size from 2.5 to 20 nm, with an average size of 7.5 nm for Fe3O4 MNPs and 12.5 nm for Fe3O4–AgCl nanocomposites. The antibacterial effect of the Fe3O4 MNPs and fabricated Fe3O4–AgCl nanocomposites against Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218) were investigated by conventional serial agar dilution method using the Muller–Hinton Agar medium. The minimum inhibitory concentration was 4 mg mL−1 for Fe3O4 MNPs and 2 mg mL−1 for the Fe3O4–AgCl magnetic nanocomposites. Time-kill course assays showed that the...