Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Properties of Fe2ti3o9 Nanoparticles: Antimicrobial Activity and DNA Cleavage Ability

Abstract

The study of nanomaterials, especially metal oxide nanoparticles, has provided new research opportunities to enhance their biological properties to offer promising solutions to global health concerns. Therefore, it is essential to design bimetallic oxide nanoparticles as potential antimicrobial agents and effective nanomaterials for DNA cleavage due to the increased ROS (reactive oxygen species) production affected by the synergy of the corresponding monometallic oxides coupling. In that vein, mono- and bimetallic oxide nanoparticles of iron and titanium like TiO2, Fe2O3, Fe2TiO5, and Fe2Ti3O9 were prepared and after analysis, their antimicrobial and DNA cleavage activities compared and investigated. According to the results, Fe2Ti3O9 nanoparticles exhibit the highest antimicrobial effect against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, and the fungi (Candida albicans and Aspergillus oryzae) as well as the highest ability to cleave chromosomal DNA of Escherichia coli bacterium compared to other nanoparticles. The synergistic effect of Fe2O3 and 3TiO2 coupling, the smaller average size of 10 nm, larger interaction surface, and less crystallinity are led to increased oxidative stress via ROS production and consequently enhanced biological properties in Fe2Ti3O9 nanoparticles.