Size effects in magnetic separation for rapid and efficient bacteria removal.

ABSTRACT: Magnetic separation offers a promising strategy for bacterial removal from aqueous systems due to its tunable specificity, biocompatibility, and facile recovery. However, the influence of nanoparticle size on removal efficiency and adsorption capacity remains unclear. Here, we systematically investigate size-dependent effects using porous magnetic particles covalently modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI). Porous magnets with diameters ranging from ∼50 to ∼420 nm were synthesized and functionalized with PEI to enhance electrostatic interactions with negatively charged bacteria. The resulting PEI-modified porous magnets induced extensive bacterial aggregation and exhibited high adsorption capacities for both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12707447 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature