Silver ferrite and cobalt ferrite dispersed castor oil polyurethane nanocomposites: Quenching studies of bovine serum albumin

ABSTRACT

The use of renewable resource is a strategic opportunity to meet growing demands of eco-friendly materials. The present study reports the synthesis of castor-oil-based polyurethane (COPU), and its nanocomposites with CoFe₂O₄ and AgFeO₂ via sonication technique. Formation of the nanocomposite was confirmed by IR analysis while UV–visible studies revealed encapsulation of the ferrite particles by COPU. The interaction between COPU, AgFeO₂, CoFe₂O₄, and their nanocomposites with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was also investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy which revealed static quenching of BSA through complex formation. The quenching rate for COPU was determined to be 1.98 × 10⁴ LM⁻¹ while for pure CoFe₂O₄ and AgFeO₂, it was found to be 3 × 10⁴ LM⁻¹ and 3.2 × 10⁴ LM⁻¹, respectively. The interaction of BSA particularly with silver and cobalt ferrite nanoparticles within COPU matrix was found to be promising. It was found that by controlling the loading of ferrite in COPU matrix, desired binding could be achieved.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Bovine serum albumin
• castor oil polyurethane
• ferrites
• quenching behaviour
• sustainable resource

Acknowledgment

The corresponding author Dr Ufana Riaz wishes to acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India vide sanction no. SB/S1/PC-070/2013 for granting major research project. The author also wishes to acknowledge the SAIF Facility at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for providing the TEM analysis.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board [Grant No. SB/S1/PC-070/2013].