Antibacterial efficacy of green synthesized α-FeO nanoparticles using plant extract.

The aim of the work is to synthesize iron oxide (α-FeO) nanoparticles using plant extract along with evaluation of its antibacterial activity. The presence of phytochemicals in methanolic plant extract was investigated by HPTLC and LC-MS/TOF. The probable mechanism for formation of α-FeO nanoparticles in mediation with plant extract was demonstrated. The green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (α-FeO NPs) were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, scanning, and transmission electronic microscopy, TG-DTA, FTIR, and UV spectroscopy. The crystallite size of prepared α-FeO nanoparticles estimated via Debye-Scherrer formula and Williamson-Hall plot was around 20 nm which is in accordance with particle size in TEM images. The mediated iron-oxide nanoparticles (α-FeO NPs) hold potent antibacterial activity against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria.