FABRICATION OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL POLYMERIC (STARCH/PVA/CUO) ELECTROSPUN NANOSCAFFOLDS FROM BROWN MARINE MACROALGAE (DICTYOTA SP.) EXTRACT: PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY ON HT-29 AND MCF-7 CELLS

Abstract

This study presents the eco-friendly fabrication of multifunctional starch/PVA electrospun nanoscaffolds incorporated with biogenic copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) synthesized using Dictyota sp. extract via ultrasonication. The phytochemical-assisted CuO NPs exhibited a surface plasmon resonance peak at 270–300 nm in UV-Vis spectroscopy, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed Cu–O bonding (594–2033 cm⁻¹) and successful integration into the polymer matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed a monoclinic CuO phase (JCPDS 48-1548) with high crystallinity, whereas Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated uniform nanofiber morphology with well-dispersed NPs. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated enhanced thermal stability (residue stable up to 548°C), and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed colloidal stability (zeta potential: −20.08 mV; size: 92.8 nm). The nanoscaffolds exhibited potent anticancer activity against HT-29 and MCF-7 cells, with IC50 values of ~12.5 µg/mL—significantly lower than algal extract (IC50 ~50 µg/mL) or CuO NPs alone (IC50 ~25 µg/mL). These results underscore the scaffold’s dual functionality as a thermally stable, cytotoxic agent, highlighting its potential for biomedical applications.