Evaluation of the Potential Carrier and Controlled Release of Antibiotics by Zinc, Nickel, and Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles Encapsulated with Silica and Functionalized with Moxifloxacin Hydrochloride

ABSTRACT Bacterial resistance represents a significant global health threat associated with the development of microbial resistance genes. Nanomedicine emerges as a promising approach to address this challenge by using engineered nanomaterials such as ferrites. This study functionalizes zinc, nickel, and cobalt ferrite nanoparticles with moxifloxacin hydrochloride, a broad‐spectrum antibiotic active against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The functionalization follows established methodologies to maximize chemical interactions between nanoparticles and the antibiotic, which are analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray Fluorescence (XRF). Antibiotic release is evaluated in phosphate buffer, and data are analyzed using Analysis of Variance. Antimicrobial activity is assessed through agar disc diffusion against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The sol–gel synthesis and functionalization method efficiently produces nanoparticles with suitable sizes for biomedical applications. All synthesized nanoparticles inhibit bacterial growth at different concentrations, confirming their potential as antibiotic carrier systems for controlled drug delivery. These findings highlight the importance of ferrite‐based nanostructures as multifunctional platforms for developing innovative antimicrobial strategies in response to the growing challenge of bacterial resistance.