Apple Pectin supported Superparamagnetic (γ-Fe2O3) maghemite nanoparticles with antimicrobial potency

Abstract Magnetic nanoparticles are themselves a fascinating world due to their various applications in different fields mainly biomedical, catalysis, storage devices and many more. Till now magnetites have been explored extensively through different routes whereas another oxide of iron that is maghemite needs attention and yet to be discovered in different aspects. Here we show the simple, facile and less time consuming method to synthesize superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles. The highlights and novelty of the synthesis are marked by the use of sodium borohydride to obtain small sized iron oxide nanoparticles starting from a transition metal complex and further stabilizing them with a polysaccharide that is apple pectin. The maghemite nanoparticles thus synthesized, are characterized by SEM, TEM and XRD whereas, pectin binding with nanoparticles is confirmed by FTIR. The size of nanoparticles obtained is between 2 and 6 nm. The phase clarity of maghemites has been derived using Mossbauer spectra. Along with this, their antimicrobial behavior has also been studied using four different bacterial strains P. aerugenosa, S. aureus B. cereus and S. typhii. The nanoparticles were found to inhibit the growth of bacteria. The present work proposes green synthesis of maghemite nanoparticles in water as solvent and supports waste management by using polysaccharide obtained from apple peel.