Amoxicillin conjugated functionalized zinc ferrite nanoparticles for enhanced antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activities

Abstract

To address the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance, magnetic nanoparticles were developed and characterized by providing an innovative solution. Zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe₂O₄ NPs) were synthesized using a chemical co-precipitation method, stabilized with citric acid (CA), and conjugated with amoxicillin (AX) to create ZnF-CA-AX nanocomposites. These nanoparticles were extensively characterized by their structural and optical properties. The antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites was tested against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli, showing significant inhibition zones. Furthermore, the nanocomposites showed a high level of antibiofilm efficiency, and potential antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. Collectively, these findings indicate that magnetic nanoparticles can enhance antibiotic effectiveness, offering new therapeutic avenues to combat resistant bacterial infections.