SUSTAINABLE FABRICATION OF MULTISCALE POLYMERIC ELECTROSPUN NANOSCAFFOLDS LOADED WITH CuO NANOPARTICLES FROM Chondracanthus exasperatus EXTRACT FOR WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY ON HaCaT KERATINOCYTES CELLS

Abstract

This study reports the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Chondracanthus exasperatus (red marine macroalgae) extract via an ultrasonic-assisted method, followed by their incorporation into starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanoscaffolds for enhanced wound healing applications. UV Visible spectroscopy confirmed the formation of CuO NPs with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 305 nm, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed nanoparticle stabilization through phytochemical interactions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the monoclinic crystalline structure of CuO NPs, and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated uniform nanoparticle distribution within nanofibrous scaffolds. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated improved thermal stability, and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) /zeta potential analysis confirmed colloidal stability (−22.28 mV). In vitro wound healing assays using HaCaT keratinocytes revealed that starch/PVA/CuO-NP nanoscaffolds exhibited superior wound closure rates (97.1% at 100 µg/mL) compared to CuO NPs (85.1%) and algal extract (71.1%), highlighting their potential as bioactive wound dressings. These findings suggest that the phytochemically synthesized CuO NPs embedded in starch/PVA nanofibers offer a biocompatible, thermally stable, and highly effective scaffold for accelerating wound regeneration.