Innovative magnetic tri-layered nanocomposites
based on polyxanthone triazole, polypyrrole and
iron oxide: synthesis, characterization and
investigation of the biological activities
Vahid Hasantabar,
a
Moslem Mansour Lakouraj,
*
a
Ehsan Nazarzadeh Zare
a
and Mojtaba Mohseni
b
A magnetic multi-functional composite with a tri-layer core–shell–shell construction was successfully
prepared by a combination process involving click reactions and emulsion polymerization. Firstly,
magnetic polyxanthone triazole (PXT) was synthesized via the click reaction of bisethynyl and 2,7-(N-2-
chloroacetamide) xanthone (NClX) in the presence of Fe
3
O
4
nanoparticles. Then, a
polypyrrole@polyxanthone triazole@Fe
3
O
4
(PPy@PXT@Fe
3
O
4
) tri-layered nanocomposite was prepared
via emulsion polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of magnetic PXT using sodium dodecyl sulfate
(SDS) as an emulsifier and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an oxidant. Characterization of the synthesized
polymer and nanocomposite was carried out by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform
infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis
(TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) survey, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating
sample magnetometer (VSM) studies. Also, the antioxidant activity of the nanocomposites was examined
and compared with the bare polymer using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl free radical (DPPHc) assay.
In addition, the in vitro antibacterial activities of the di-layered and tri-layered nanocomposites were
studied by inhibition zone methods. The results showed a greater synergic effect in the thermal stability,
antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the tri-layered nanocomposite than of the di-layered
nanocomposite. Thus, the developed PPy@PXT@Fe
3
O
4
tri-layered nanocomposite could be used
effectively for biomedical applications and would be a good sorbent candidate for the microbial
treatment of wastewater.
1. Introduction
In recent years, layered nanocomposites have signied a class of
multifunctional materials that has received growing atten-
tion.
1–7
The specic construction of these composites produces
a synergistic effect between the organic and inorganic frag-
ments, producing compounds with different chemical or
physical properties as compared to the individual components.
Layered nanocomposites not only represent an innovative
alternative to the search for new materials, but also allow for the
development of pioneering industrial applications. These
nanocomposites can be used in intelligent membranes, sepa-
ration and photovoltaic devices, fuel cells, catalysis, chemical
and biochemical sensors, and medicine.
8–14
A great variety of
layered nanocomposites can be prepared from the combination
of polymers and inorganic particles.
Among polymer based materials, conductive polymers have
been used as an excellent material for the preparation of
nanocomposites with specic properties, including their
remarkable electronic, magnetic, biological and optical prop-
erties. Polypyrrole (PPy) is one of the conductive polymers which
has good biological activities (antibacterial, antioxidant, and
anti-cytotoxicity) and good physical properties.
15–19
To the best of our knowledge, magnetic polymer composites,
as an illustrative example of multifunctional composites, are
receiving more attention because of their peculiar structure and
properties.
20–23
They have found a wide number of applications
in various elds such as biomedicine and bioengineering. So far
many researchers have reported multifunctional composites,
for instance Gok and co-workers synthesized a PT/PS/SiO
2
nanocomposite in a nonaqueous medium by a chemical
method.
24
Kong and co-workers have reported a multifunctional
multi-walled carbon nanotube/Fe
3
O
4
nanoparticle/polyaniline
composite as an electromagnetic composite.
25
Li and co-
a
Department of Organic-Polymer Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of
Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran, 47416. E-mail: lakouraj@umz.ac.ir; Fax: +98
1135342350; Tel: +98 1135242354
b
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran,
Babolsar, Iran, 47416
Cite this: RSC Adv. , 2015, 5, 70186
Received 22nd April 2015
Accepted 5th August 2015
DOI: 10.1039/c5ra07309j
www.rsc.org/advances
70186 | RSC Adv. , 2015, 5, 70186–70196 This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015
RSC Advances
PAPER