FABRICATION OF SUSTAINABLE POLYMERIC ELECTROSPUN NANOSCAFFOLDS LOADED WITH GREEN SYNTHESIZED CUO NANOPARTICLES FROM TURBINARIA ORNATA EXTRACT FOR ENHANCED ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

TThis study investigated the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Turbinaria ornata algal extract and their incorporation into starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanoscaffolds for antimicrobial applications. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed successful biosynthesis, with the algal extract exhibiting absorption at 346 nm (indicative of phenolic/flavonoid content) and CuO NPs showing a characteristic plasmonic edge at 200 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis verified the presence of Cu-O bonds (601 cm⁻¹) in the NPs and functional groups (e.g., O-H, C=O) in the nanoscaffolds, confirming effective integration. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed the monoclinic crystalline structure of CuO NPs, while Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed uniform, bead-free nanofibers with well-dispersed NPs. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) demonstrated enhanced thermal stability in the nanocomposite, with degradation onset at 244.81°C. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) indicated moderate particle heterogeneity (Z-average: 92.8 nm), and zeta potential (-5.29 mV) suggested marginal colloidal stability. Antimicrobial assays against bacterial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp.) pathogens revealed superior efficacy of nanoscaffolds (e.g., 29±0.19 mm for E. coli), outperforming standalone CuO NPs and algal extract. The nanoscaffolds' enhanced activity is attributed to their fibrous structure, facilitating controlled NP release. These findings highlight the potential of CuO NP-integrated nanoscaffolds as advanced antimicrobial biomaterials for wound dressings or medical coatings, while underscoring the need for stability optimization in future applications.