ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF SUSTAINABLE MULTISCALE POLYMERIC (STARCH/PVA/CUO) ELECTROSPUN NANOSCAFFOLDS FROM POCOCKIELLA VARIEGATA (BROWN MARINE MACROALGAE) EXTRACT

Abstract

This study presents an eco-friendly synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles using Pocockiella variegata (macroalgae) extracts and their integration into starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for potential anticancer applications. The synthesized CuO nanoparticles exhibited a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 292 nm, confirming their formation, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses validated the presence of Cu–O bonds and a monoclinic crystalline structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed well-dispersed CuO particles within the fibrous scaffold, with sizes ranging from 50–200 nm, and high porosity suitable for biomedical use. Thermal analysis indicated improved thermal stability of the CuO-loaded scaffold compared to native polymers. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential studies confirmed moderate colloidal stability and particle dispersion. In vitro cytotoxicity assays against HT-29 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines showed that the CuO-loaded nanoscaffolds exhibited enhanced anticancer activity with lower IC₅₀ values than free nanoparticles or algal extract. These findings suggest the developed nanoscaffold as a promising candidate for cancer therapeutics.