Surface-functionalized Carbon, Silica and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Antibacterial Applications

The pharmacological properties desired in newly developed drugs such as solubility, circulating half-time, controlled release over precise durations and specific site-targeted delivery, can be improved by combining them with the concept of nanochemistry. In this thesis various nanomaterials based on carbon, silica, aluminosilicate and iron oxide were synthesized using co-precipitation and solvothermal methods for their further utilization as drug carriers. In addition, numerous active organic ligands and molecules were covalently attached to the surface of nanoparticles (carbon spheres and aluminosilicate) via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition protocols (click chemistry). Furthermore, new concept for nanoparticles were developed based on carbodiimide coupling reactions. Later the modified NPs were studied for their cellular uptake activity and antimicrobial properties.