Background: Cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles possess unique magnetic and physical properties, making them ideal for various scientific and technological applications such as magnetic data storage, medical imaging, catalysts, sensors, and drug delivery. Consequently, developing environmentally friendly synthetic methods using natural materials as reducing and stabilizing agents is essential for synthesizing these nanoparticles.
Aim: This research aimed to utilize brown algae extract from Sargassum, collected along the Bushehr coast, as a stabilizer in synthesizing cobalt ferrite nanoparticles, while also investigating their antibacterial properties and cytotoxicity.
Methodology: The aqueous extract from the algae was prepared by adding 10 g of powdered Sargassum to 100 ml of distilled water and heating the mixture at 80°C for 2 hours. Iron (III) chloride hexahydrate and cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate served as precursors for synthesizing cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. A 3N sodium hydroxide solution was used to raise the pH of the reaction medium to 12. The resulting precipitate from the alkaline reaction was washed multiple times with distilled water and ethanol. After drying in an oven and calcining at 600°C, the desired cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were obtained.
Findings: In this study, Sargassum brown algae extract served as a stabilizer in synthesizing cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles with a cubic spinel structure and an average size of 10 nm. The nanoparticles showed no antibacterial activity against **Escherichia coli** and **Streptococcus aureus**. Additionally, the MTT cytotoxicity test indicated no cell death or growth inhibition. Consequently, the high biocompatibility of these synthesized cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles suggests they are suitable candidates for drug delivery applications.
Conclusions: In this study, an aqueous extract of brown algae Sargassum was utilized as a stabilizer for synthesizing cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. Given the shape and size-depend