Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla

Abdulrauf Muhammad Shafiu; Abdulhamid Abubakar; Umar Argungu Aminu; Aliyu Idris Kankara; Musa Fatima

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11

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Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla

Abdulrauf Muhammad Shafiu^*, Abdulhamid Abubakar

, Umar Argungu Aminu

, Aliyu Idris Kankara

, Musa Fatima

Published in International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research (Volume 14, Issue 1)

Received: 22 March 2026 Accepted: 7 April 2026 Published: 23 April 2026

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Abstract

Green synthesis using plant extract is an eco-friendly approach for producing metal oxide nanoparticles with improved biological activity. This study investigated the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) using Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and determine how chitosan influences their surface characteristics and antioxidant activity. The FeONPs were synthesized using aqueous Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and subsequently coated with a chitosan. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The UV-visible spectra confirmed successful nanoparticle formation, while the FTIR showed a strong interaction between chitosan functional groups and iron oxide surface. XRD revealed a highly crystalline cubic spinel structure consistent with magnetite/maghemite and SEM revealed irregular aggregated particles with increased surface roughness after chitosan coating. CS-FeONPs showed significantly higher DPPH scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 11.63 ± 0.30 µg/mL) than uncoated FeONPs (IC₅₀ = 19.53 ± 0.63 µg/mL) and the crude extract (IC₅₀ = 23.02 µg/mL) (p < 0.05), approaching the activity of vitamin C. FRAP analysis similarly demonstrated a gradual increased in reducing power from the extract to FeONPs and further to CS-FeONPs’ Therefore, combining plant mediated synthesis with chitosan surface functionalization produced a stable iron oxide nanocomposite with improved antioxidant activity. These findings highlighted the role of surface engineering in developing sustainable nanomaterials with promising biomedical applications.

Published in	International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research (Volume 14, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11
Page(s)	1-7
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Antioxidant Activity, Chitosan, Green Synthesis, Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

References

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Shafiu, A. M., Abubakar, A., Aminu, U. A., Kankara, A. I., Fatima, M. (2026). Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla. International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 14(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11

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ACS Style

Shafiu, A. M.; Abubakar, A.; Aminu, U. A.; Kankara, A. I.; Fatima, M. Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla. Int. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 2026, 14(1), 1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11

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AMA Style

Shafiu AM, Abubakar A, Aminu UA, Kankara AI, Fatima M. Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla. Int J Biomed Mater Res. 2026;14(1):1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11,
  author = {Abdulrauf Muhammad Shafiu and Abdulhamid Abubakar and Umar Argungu Aminu and Aliyu Idris Kankara and Musa Fatima},
  title = {Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla},
  journal = {International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-7},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijbmr.20261401.11},
  abstract = {Green synthesis using plant extract is an eco-friendly approach for producing metal oxide nanoparticles with improved biological activity. This study investigated the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) using Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and determine how chitosan influences their surface characteristics and antioxidant activity. The FeONPs were synthesized using aqueous Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and subsequently coated with a chitosan. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The UV-visible spectra confirmed successful nanoparticle formation, while the FTIR showed a strong interaction between chitosan functional groups and iron oxide surface. XRD revealed a highly crystalline cubic spinel structure consistent with magnetite/maghemite and SEM revealed irregular aggregated particles with increased surface roughness after chitosan coating. CS-FeONPs showed significantly higher DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 11.63 ± 0.30 µg/mL) than uncoated FeONPs (IC50 = 19.53 ± 0.63 µg/mL) and the crude extract (IC50 = 23.02 µg/mL) (p < 0.05), approaching the activity of vitamin C. FRAP analysis similarly demonstrated a gradual increased in reducing power from the extract to FeONPs and further to CS-FeONPs’ Therefore, combining plant mediated synthesis with chitosan surface functionalization produced a stable iron oxide nanocomposite with improved antioxidant activity. These findings highlighted the role of surface engineering in developing sustainable nanomaterials with promising biomedical applications.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla
AU  - Abdulrauf Muhammad Shafiu
AU  - Abdulhamid Abubakar
AU  - Umar Argungu Aminu
AU  - Aliyu Idris Kankara
AU  - Musa Fatima
Y1  - 2026/04/23
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11
T2  - International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
JF  - International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
JO  - International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
SP  - 1
EP  - 7
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7579
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11
AB  - Green synthesis using plant extract is an eco-friendly approach for producing metal oxide nanoparticles with improved biological activity. This study investigated the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) using Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and determine how chitosan influences their surface characteristics and antioxidant activity. The FeONPs were synthesized using aqueous Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and subsequently coated with a chitosan. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The UV-visible spectra confirmed successful nanoparticle formation, while the FTIR showed a strong interaction between chitosan functional groups and iron oxide surface. XRD revealed a highly crystalline cubic spinel structure consistent with magnetite/maghemite and SEM revealed irregular aggregated particles with increased surface roughness after chitosan coating. CS-FeONPs showed significantly higher DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 11.63 ± 0.30 µg/mL) than uncoated FeONPs (IC50 = 19.53 ± 0.63 µg/mL) and the crude extract (IC50 = 23.02 µg/mL) (p < 0.05), approaching the activity of vitamin C. FRAP analysis similarly demonstrated a gradual increased in reducing power from the extract to FeONPs and further to CS-FeONPs’ Therefore, combining plant mediated synthesis with chitosan surface functionalization produced a stable iron oxide nanocomposite with improved antioxidant activity. These findings highlighted the role of surface engineering in developing sustainable nanomaterials with promising biomedical applications.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Abdulrauf Muhammad Shafiu

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Contact Email
Abdulhamid Abubakar

Department of Biochemistry, Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3946-1237
Umar Argungu Aminu

Department of Biochemistry, Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6949-7751
Aliyu Idris Kankara

Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Nigeria

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1494-0058
Musa Fatima

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

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Shafiu, A. M., Abubakar, A., Aminu, U. A., Kankara, A. I., Fatima, M. (2026). Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla. International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 14(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11

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ACS Style

Shafiu, A. M.; Abubakar, A.; Aminu, U. A.; Kankara, A. I.; Fatima, M. Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla. Int. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 2026, 14(1), 1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11

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AMA Style

Shafiu AM, Abubakar A, Aminu UA, Kankara AI, Fatima M. Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla. Int J Biomed Mater Res. 2026;14(1):1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11,
  author = {Abdulrauf Muhammad Shafiu and Abdulhamid Abubakar and Umar Argungu Aminu and Aliyu Idris Kankara and Musa Fatima},
  title = {Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla},
  journal = {International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-7},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijbmr.20261401.11},
  abstract = {Green synthesis using plant extract is an eco-friendly approach for producing metal oxide nanoparticles with improved biological activity. This study investigated the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) using Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and determine how chitosan influences their surface characteristics and antioxidant activity. The FeONPs were synthesized using aqueous Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and subsequently coated with a chitosan. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The UV-visible spectra confirmed successful nanoparticle formation, while the FTIR showed a strong interaction between chitosan functional groups and iron oxide surface. XRD revealed a highly crystalline cubic spinel structure consistent with magnetite/maghemite and SEM revealed irregular aggregated particles with increased surface roughness after chitosan coating. CS-FeONPs showed significantly higher DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 11.63 ± 0.30 µg/mL) than uncoated FeONPs (IC50 = 19.53 ± 0.63 µg/mL) and the crude extract (IC50 = 23.02 µg/mL) (p < 0.05), approaching the activity of vitamin C. FRAP analysis similarly demonstrated a gradual increased in reducing power from the extract to FeONPs and further to CS-FeONPs’ Therefore, combining plant mediated synthesis with chitosan surface functionalization produced a stable iron oxide nanocomposite with improved antioxidant activity. These findings highlighted the role of surface engineering in developing sustainable nanomaterials with promising biomedical applications.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Green Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Ficus platyphylla
AU  - Abdulrauf Muhammad Shafiu
AU  - Abdulhamid Abubakar
AU  - Umar Argungu Aminu
AU  - Aliyu Idris Kankara
AU  - Musa Fatima
Y1  - 2026/04/23
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11
T2  - International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
JF  - International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
JO  - International Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
SP  - 1
EP  - 7
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7579
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijbmr.20261401.11
AB  - Green synthesis using plant extract is an eco-friendly approach for producing metal oxide nanoparticles with improved biological activity. This study investigated the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) using Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and determine how chitosan influences their surface characteristics and antioxidant activity. The FeONPs were synthesized using aqueous Ficus platyphylla leaf extract and subsequently coated with a chitosan. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The UV-visible spectra confirmed successful nanoparticle formation, while the FTIR showed a strong interaction between chitosan functional groups and iron oxide surface. XRD revealed a highly crystalline cubic spinel structure consistent with magnetite/maghemite and SEM revealed irregular aggregated particles with increased surface roughness after chitosan coating. CS-FeONPs showed significantly higher DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 11.63 ± 0.30 µg/mL) than uncoated FeONPs (IC50 = 19.53 ± 0.63 µg/mL) and the crude extract (IC50 = 23.02 µg/mL) (p < 0.05), approaching the activity of vitamin C. FRAP analysis similarly demonstrated a gradual increased in reducing power from the extract to FeONPs and further to CS-FeONPs’ Therefore, combining plant mediated synthesis with chitosan surface functionalization produced a stable iron oxide nanocomposite with improved antioxidant activity. These findings highlighted the role of surface engineering in developing sustainable nanomaterials with promising biomedical applications.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

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