FABRICATION OF MULTISCALE POLYMERIC (STARCH/PVA/CUO) ELECTROSPUN NANOSCAFFOLDS FROM MARINE MACROALGAE (DICTYOTA SP.) EXTRACT: PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATIONA AND ANTI INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY

Abstract

This study explores the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Dictyota algal extract and their incorporation into starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanoscaffolds for enhanced anti-inflammatory applications. The phytochemical-rich algal extract facilitated the reduction and stabilization of CuO NPs, as confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, which revealed characteristic absorption peaks at 270–300 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses verified the successful formation of crystalline CuO NPs and their integration into the polymer matrix without structural disruption. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging demonstrated uniform nanoparticle distribution within smooth, bead-free nanofibers, while Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) indicated improved thermal stability due to CuO NP incorporation. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed stable colloidal dispersion with a particle size of 92.8 nm and a zeta potential of -20.08 mV. Anti-inflammatory assays demonstrated superior efficacy of the starch/PVA/CuO-NPs scaffold, exhibiting up to 80.51% protein denaturation inhibition and 78.70% xanthine oxidase inhibition at 100 µg/mL, outperforming both the algal extract and bare CuO NPs. These findings highlight the scaffold’s potential as a biocompatible, sustainable anti-inflammatory material for biomedical applications.