BIOPOLYMERIC ELECTROSPUN NANOSCAFFOLDS INCORPORATED WITH GREEN SYNTHESISED CuO NANOPARTICLES FROM RED MARINE MACROALGAE EXTRACT FOR WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY

Abstract

This study reports the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Gracilaria corticata red algal extract via an ultrasonic-assisted method, followed by their incorporation into starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanoscaffolds for enhanced wound healing applications. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed nanoparticle formation with a characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 291 nm, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed bioactive functional groups from algal extract acting as reducing and stabilizing agents. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the monoclinic crystalline structure of CuO NPs, whereas Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated uniform dispersion within nanofibers without aggregation. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated improved thermal stability (degradation onset at 265.25°C), and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed moderate colloidal stability (zeta potential: 14.11 mV). The wound healing scratch assay on HaCaT keratinocytes revealed concentration-dependent activity, with starch/PVA/CuO-NPs nanoscaffolds exhibiting superior performance (97.59% closure at 100 µg/mL) compared to CuO NPs (85.59%) and algal extract alone (71.59%). The nanoscaffold’s fibrous architecture and bioactive CuO NPs synergistically enhanced cell migration, underscoring its potential as an advanced wound dressing. This study highlights the efficacy of eco-friendly CuO NPs and their nanocomposites in accelerating tissue regeneration, offering a sustainable approach for biomedical applications.