Synthesis and antibacterial activities of novel nanocomposite films of chitosan/phosphoramide/Fe3O4 NPs

New nanocomposite films of chitosan/phosphoramide/1-5% Fe3O4 NPs were prepared. The Fe3O4 NPs were synthesized as core-shell NPs with starch as a capping agent. The phosphoramide compound was synthesized from the reaction of morpholine with N-4-nitrophenyl phosphoramidic dichloride. The XRD and SEM analysis of Fe3O4 NPs, chitosan (CS), phosphoramide (Ph), CS/Ph and CS/Fe3O4 NPs films as well as the nanocomposite films 1-5 containing CS/Ph/1-5% Fe3O4 NPs were investigated and the results confirmed the formation of the desired films. The in vitro antibacterial activities were evaluated against four bacteria including two Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) and two Gram-negative Escherchia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) bacteria. Results indicated greater antibacterial effects for the films against Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, nanocomposite films containing higher percent of Fe3O4 NPs displayed more antibacterial activities.