Cobalt Dithiocarbamate Coordination Polymeric Nanoparticles: Morphology Dependent Magnetic and Antimicrobial Properties

Various synthetic methods were employed on a single precursor to synthesize magnetic cobalt dithiocarbamate (Co(dtc-SB)) coordination polymer nanoparticles (MCP NPs) having different morphologies. When subjected to hydrothermal method, the precursor led to the formation of nanosheets (NSs) of MCP (100 × 80 nm), whereas the same precursor when set to slow diffusion precipitation, formed nanowires (NWs) with 30 nm diameter. Further, on micro-emulsion ultrasonication, uniform MCP nanocubes (NCs) ∼5 nm were obtained. MCP NPs are weakly ferromagnetic in nature with a narrow hysteresis loop opening. In addition, the magnetic properties of MCP NPs are shown to be highly dependent on size. Further, the antimicrobial activity of MCP NPs against various microbes was also shown to be highly size dependent. The biocompatible MCP NCs were found to have the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 6.25 μg/ml against S. aureus and K. pneumoneae, which demonstrate that NPs are equally effective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.