Synthesis of cobalt ferrite using the sol-gel method with three different bioactive stabilizers

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) magnetic nanoparticles are inorganic oxides with an inverted spinel structure, containing Fe³⁺ and Co²⁺ ions that interact with charged functional groups. They possess ferrimagnetic properties, in addition to high chemical and thermal stability, and are applicable in several areas, including drug delivery, making them a good candidate for the delivery of cosmetic actives. In this study, three bioactives were used in the synthesis of cobalt ferrite: cassava starch, sodium alginate, and carrageenan, which are natural hydrocolloid polysaccharides that act as stabilizing agents interacting with the ions on the surface of the nanoparticles to reduce their surface energy and promote a protective coating. The synthesis was performed by the Sol-Gel method, using iron nitrate (Fe(NO₃)₃) and cobalt nitrate (Co(NO₃)₂), undergoing nitrate dissociation processes when dissolving them in water, hydrolysis, and condensation. The samples were characterized by DLS (particle size), SEM (morphology), and EDS (chemical composition). The results indicated that cassava starch is the most promising bioactive for hair formulations due to its ease of handling and efficacy, and it is likely to remain the main ingredient in future formulations.