Copyright (c) 2026 R. Venkatesh Nayak, G. Vijaya Charan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Multifunctional Sr-doped Co–Mn Spinel Nanochromites for Antimicrobial and DNA Interaction Applications
Corresponding Author(s) : G. Vijaya Charan
Asian Journal of Chemistry,
Vol. 38 No. 3 (2026): Vol 38 Issue 3, 2026
Abstract
A series of Co0.25Sr0.50MnxCr2-xO4 nanochromite samples, where x ranges from 0.05, 0.15, 0.25, were prepared by the citrate gel-auto combustion technique. The structural, optical and biological activities of the prepared samples were investigated. A single-phase cubic spinel structure was confirmed by XRD with Fd3m space group. The crystalline size was found to be in the range of 5.80 to 19.86 nm, calculated using Scherrer formula. FESEM images revealed a spherical and agglomerated structure and the presence of Mn, Co, Sr, Cr and O was confirmed by the EDS spectrum. The presence of M–O bond linkage in tetrahedral and octahedral bands was in the FTIR spectrum. The band gap energy of the samples ranged from 1.93 eV and 1.52 eV calculated using Tauc plots. The biological studies were investigated through antibacterial and antifungal activity using the pour plate method. The synthesized nanospinels exhibited significant antifungal activity against Candida and Aspergillus, with clear zones of inhibition (~12 mm) and low MIC values (as low as 25 µL), demonstrating strong dose-dependent efficacy. Furthermore, the prepared nanochromites exhibited partial ctDNA cleavage and moderate DNA binding affinity (Kb ~104 M–1), indicating weak-to-moderate groove/electrostatic interactions. While antibacterial activity was minimal, the materials demonstrated pronounced antifungal efficacy against Candida and Aspergillus, with ~12 mm inhibition zones and low MIC values (> 25 µL), confirming composition-dependent and dose-responsive antifungal performance.
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Y. El Jabbar, H. Lakhlifi, R. El Ouatib, L. Er-Rakho, S. Guillemet-Fritsch and B. Durand, Ceram. Int., 47, 9373 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.12.068
T. Garg, A.A. Koser and A. Yadav, Next Research, 2, 100599 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexres.2025.100599
K. Vanasundari, G. Mahalakshmi and A. Prakasam, Next Materials, 4, 100196 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxmate.2024.100196
F. Muhammad, M. Xia, S. Li, X. Yu, Y. Mao, F. Muhammad, X. Huang, B. Jiao, L. Yu and D. Li, J. Clean. Prod., 234, 381 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.06.004
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S. Heni, S. Hcini, M.L. Bouazizi, L. HajTaieb, A. Dhahri and H. Bacha, RSC Advances, 14, 26340 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA03342F
R. Michalsky, B.A. Peterson and P.H. Pfromm, Thermochim. Acta, 582, 10 (2014); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2014.02.018
M. Pazoki, T.J. Jacobsson, A. Hagfeldt, G. Boschloo and T. Edvinsson, Phys. Rev. B, 93, 144105 (2016); https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.93.144105
J. Wang, Y. Wang, M. Zheng and F. Cai, Materials, 18, 1320 (2025); https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18061320
J.C.L. Chow, AIMS Biophys., 11, 340 (2024); https://doi.org/10.3934/biophy.2024019
R.K. Shukla, A. Badiye, K. Vajpayee and N. Kapoor, Front. Genet., 12, 728250 (2021); https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2021.728250
H. An and B. Jin, Biotechnol. Adv., 30, 1721 (2012); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2012.03.007
Z. Shao, X. Wu, X. Wu, S. Feng and K. Huang, Mater. Chem. Front., 7, 5288 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1039/D3QM00416C
Q. Zhao, Z. Yan, C. Chen and J. Chen, Chem. Rev., 117, 10121 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00051
P.S. Kumari, D.R. Kumar and G.V. Charan, J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol., 113, 296 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-024-06605-4
P.S. Kumari, D.R. Kumar and G.V. Charan, ChemistrySelect, 10, e00600 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202500600
D.R. Kumar, C.A. Lincoln, D. Ravinder and S.I. Ahmad, Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process., 126, 705 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-020-03894-8
A.A.H. El-Bassuony and H.K. Abdelsalam, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron., 31, 3662 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-02924-8
Ch. Srikanth, P.S. Kumari, R.V. Nayak and G.V. Charan, Asian J. Chem., 37, 729 (2025); https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2025.33195
P. Gurusamy, A. Gnanasekar and G. Deivasigamani, Investigation of Structural, Morphological, Optical, and Dielectric Properties of Magnesium Chromite (MgCr2O4) Spinel Oxide, in: The 5th International Electronic Conference on Applied Sciences, MDPI, Basel Switzerland, 2025: p. 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2025087109
D. Ravi Kumar, C.A. Lincoln, G. Vijaya Charan, G. Thara, D. Ravinder, M. Veeraswamy and P. Naresh, Mater. Chem. Phys., 278, 125648 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2021.125648
P. Sailaja Kumari, G. Vijaya Charan and D. Ravi Kumar, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 139, 109393 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2022.109393
P.S. Kumari, D.R. Kumar, G.V. Charan and S.R. Sagurthi, Chem. Zvesti, 77, 4727 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-023-02798-0
M.A. Sayed, T.M.A.A. El-Rahman, H.K. Abdelsalam, A.M. Ali, M.M. Hamdy, Y.A. Badr, N.H.A.E. Rahman, S.M.A. El-Latif, S.H. Mostafa, S.S. Mohamed, Z.M. Ali and A.A.H. El-Bassuony, BMC Chem., 16, 39 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-022-00832-y
C. Srikanth, P. Sailaja Kumari, D. Ravi Kumar, D. Ayodhya and G. Vijaya Charan, Results in Surfaces and Interfaces, 20, 100599 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsurfi.2025.100599
