ORIGINAL ARTICLE The functionalization of magnetite nanoparticles by hydroxyl substituted diazacrown ether, able to mimic natural siderophores, and investigation of their antimicrobial activity Ulviyya Alimammad Hasanova 1 • Mahammadali Ahmad Ramazanov 1 • Abel Mammadali Maharramov 1 • Zarema Gakhramanova 2 • Sarvinaz Faiq Hajiyeva 1 • Leyla Vezirova 2 • Goncha Malik Eyvazova 1 • Flora Vidadi Hajiyeva 1 • Parvana Huseynova 2 • Zohrab Agamaliyev 1 Received: 30 November 2015 / Accepted: 1 July 2016 / Published online: 9 July 2016 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016 Abstract In this work we report of functionalization of magnetite nanoparticles by hydroxyl containing diaza- crown ether—macroheterocycle (MC) that is able to mimic the properties of natural siderophores. The structure of synthesized crown ether was investigated by NMR, mass-, FTIR spectroscopy methods. The morphology of prepared MC@Fe 3 O 4 nano-ensembles was analysed by scanning electron microscopy SEM, X-ray diffraction XRD analysis methods. The quantitative analysis of nanostructures was determined by atom absorbance spectroscopy as well as on the basis of Lambert–Beer law by UV spectroscopy method. It was found that the synthesized compounds were effective against gram-negative microorganisms Escher- ichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and gram-positive Staphylococ- cus aureus, having multi drug resistance properties. Keywords Macrocycles Á Crown ether Á Supramolecular chemistry Á Siderophores Á Magnetite nanoparticles Introduction In the last decades supramolecular chemistry and nan- otechnology become to develop quickly and spread into different areas of science. Conceptually supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology have much in common, as the formation of nanostructures is based on the principle of self- assembly and self-organization and that is the essence of supramolecular ensembles. Supramolecular structures play a vital role in functioning of living organism. Their unique feature is that they arise spontaneously, via hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic effects that in turn arise from the interaction of functional groups of biomolecules with an aqueous environment and through non-covalent bonds that play important role in the formation of these structures [1]. All these naturally occurring supramolecular compounds, forming via self-assembling, are designed for realization of vital biological functions of living organisms [2]. & Mahammadali Ahmad Ramazanov mamed_r50@mail.ru Ulviyya Alimammad Hasanova ulviyya3@rambler.ru Abel Mammadali Maharramov rector@bsu.az Zarema Gakhramanova u.alimammad@gmail.com Sarvinaz Faiq Hajiyeva sarvinazhajiyeva@gmail.com Leyla Vezirova mamed_r44@rambler.ru Goncha Malik Eyvazova eygoncha@gmail.com Flora Vidadi Hajiyeva flora_1985@mail.ru Parvana Huseynova nanomaterials@bsu.edu.az Zohrab Agamaliyev a-zohrab@hotmail.com 1 Nano Research Laboratory, Baku State University, Z. Khalilov 23, AZ1148 Baku, Azerbaijan 2 RI Geotechnological problems of gas oil and chemistry, Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry, Baku, Azerbaijan 123 J Incl Phenom Macrocycl Chem (2016) 86:19–25 DOI 10.1007/s10847-016-0636-x