Preparation of magnetically separable N-halamine nanocomposites for the improved antibacterial application

Abstract Magnetic N -halamine nanocomposites were synthesized through the encapsulation of the magnetic silica nanoparticles with antibacterial N -halamine polymer. The as-synthesized sample was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The fabricated magnetic N -halamine nanocomposites possessed enhanced antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria compared with their bulk counterparts. The effect of chlorine content of the magnetic N -halamine nanocomposites on the antibacterial activity was investigated. The magnetic N -halamine nanocomposites also exhibited super-paramagnetic behavior and had a saturation magnetization of 4.728 emu g −1 at room temperature, which made these nanocomposites separable magnetically after the antibacterial behavior. Performances derived from the synergism between magnetic core and antibacterial shell suggest that the magnetic N -halamine nanocomposites are qualified for antibacterial applications and separable by the aid of the external magnetic field.