Fabrication of silver-coated cobalt ferrite nanocomposite and the study of its antibacterial activity

A new silver coated cobalt ferrite nanocomposite, Ag@CoFe2O4, was prepared by a two-step procedure. In the first step, cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by a combustion method using glycine as a fuel. This ferrite was then coated with nanosilver via chemical reduction of Ag+ solution. The as-synthesized Ag@CoFe2O4 was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The antibacterial activity of this composite was investigated against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and compared with those of silver nanoparticles and some standard antibacterial drugs.

► A novel Ag@CoFe2O4 nanocomposite was prepared via facile route.
► The antibacterial activity of this composite was studied against some bacteria.
► The inhibitory effects of this composite was higher than AgNPs and some drugs.
► This composite can be easily removed from solution by using a magnetic field.