ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis and characterization of core–shell nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@TEOS) biofunctionalized with allicin from Allium sativum optimized by a Box–Behnken design

Aldahir Alberto Hernández-Hernández, Raquel Cariño-Cortes, Luis Humberto Mendoza-Huizar, Gabriel Aguirre-Álvarez, Margarita Rivera, and Rubén Jiménez-Alvarado

Departamento de Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Politécnica de Francisco I. Madero, Francisco I. Madero, Tepatepec, Mexico

E-mail: ruben_jimenez@uaeh.edu.mx

Received: 31 March 2025  Accepted: 11 August 2025

Abstract:

Iron oxide@tetraethyl orthosilicate (Fe₃O₄@TEOS) nanoparticles were synthesized in two steps: (1) Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were obtained using an ultrasound-assisted coprecipitation method, and (2) the obtained nanoparticles were functionalized with TEOS. A Box–Behnken design was used to obtain the smallest mean particle size as a function of the reaction time, functionalization time, and NH₄OH concentration. The optimized conditions were found to be reaction time = 60 min, NH₄OH concentration = 30% and functionalization time = 15 min. In addition, data analysis showed that the NH₄OH concentration and the functionalization time affect the particle size of the Fe₃O₄@TEOS nanoparticles. On the other hand, the optimized nanoparticles were biofunctionalized with allicin extracted from fresh Allium sativum and characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, thermogravimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The characterization analysis by X-ray diffraction, FTIR and thermogravimetry suggested the incorporation of TEOS and allicin in the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Moreover, the magnetization curve shows that the residual magnetism is close to zero which associated superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Finally, microscopy results confirm the obtention of Fe₃O₄@TEOS@allicin nanoparticles having a particle size lesser than 15 nm and hexagonal morphology.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Optimization; Fe3O4 nanoparticles; Allicin; Coprecipitation; Characterization

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04310-2

Chemical Papers 79 (11) 8117–8129 (2025)