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Easy synthesis of monodisperse Co/Zn based ferrite nanoparticles and their antifungal activities on Botrytis cinerea
In this work, we have displayed an easy way to produce monodisperse spinel nanoparticles (NPs), as well as the antifungal activity of CoFe2O4, Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 and
ZnFe2O4 nanostructures. Firstly, the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of each NP were fully investigated through x-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron
Microscopy (TEM) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The XRD data showed diffraction peaks related to the crystalline spinel phase. No additional phase was observed, which
evidences the purity of the nanostructure synthesized. The TEM micrographs displayed monodisperse NPs with spherical morphology. The average sizes of CoFe2O4, Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4
and ZnFe2O4 NPs were found to be 6.87 ± 0.05 nm, 5.18 ± 0.01 nm and 11.52 ± 0.09 nm, respectively. The VSM data indicated the nanostructures are superparamagnetic at room
temperature. Afterwards, the antifungal properties of the Co/Zn-based ferrite NPs against Botrytis cinerea were tested. So, the inhibition of mycelial growth by different concentrations (45
– 360 ppm) of NPs was measured. The most effective nanostructure was found to be CoFe2O4 with an EC50 value of 265 ppm. To go further and elucidate how the NPs are affecting B.
cinerea, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured. The results indicated that the CoFe2O4 monodisperse NPs are able to induce a burst of ROS in B. cinerea, promoting
damage cellular.