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Updated: Apr 10, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Fe-doped Aluminosilicate Nanotubes with Enhanced Electron Conductive Properties
Published on: November 15, 2016
Sodium alginate functionalized nickel ferrite nanocomposites: synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and
Snigdha Pattnaik1, A R Shashikala2, Kamini Sharma3
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, 751030, Odisha, India.
Abstract:
The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the need for effective therapies against breast cancer highlight the demand for multifunctional nanomaterials with high biocompatibility. In this study, Nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) and sodium alginate functionalized NiFe₂O₄ nanocomposites (NiFe₂O₄-SA) were synthesized via a green co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction confirmed a cubic spinel structure, and transmission electron microscopy revealed quasi-spherical nanoparticles with sizes of 15-25 nm and uniform alginate coating. UV-Vis analysis showed a reduction in band gap from 4.44 eV to 3.13 eV, while photoluminescence spectra indicated enhanced charge carrier separation. NiFe₂O₄-SA exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris), with membrane disruption confirmed by microscopy. Cytotoxicity studies on MCF-7 breast cancer cells demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition with an IC₅₀ of 11.9 μg/mL, and zebrafish embryo assays confirmed excellent biocompatibility for NiFe₂O₄-SA. These findings highlight NiFe₂O₄-SA nanocomposites as promising multifunctional nanomaterials for therapeutic and biomedical applications.

