GREEN SYNTHESIS OF CuO NANOPARTICLES LOADED WITH POLYMERIC NANOSCAFFOLDS FROM Sargassum muticum EXTRACT: STRUCTURAL INSIGHTS INTO ANTICANCER ACTIVITY ON HT-29 AND MCF-7 CELLS

Abstract

The present study outlines an eco-friendly ultrasonic method to produce CuO nanoparticles from Sargassum muticum extract and embed them into starch–PVA nanofibers. UV-Vis analysis showed a 270 nm absorption peak, while FTIR confirmed functional groups involved in nanoparticle formation and stabilization, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a monoclinic crystalline structure (JCPDS 05-0661). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging demonstrated uniform nanoparticle dispersion within the porous, fibrous nanoscaffold matrix, and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated thermal stability up to 243°C. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed a particle size of 92.1 nm with moderate colloidal stability (zeta potential: −12.62 mV). The anticancer activity of the extract, CuO nanoparticles, and starch/PVA/CuO-loaded scaffolds was tested on HT-29 and MCF 7 cells. The composite scaffolds showed the moderate cytotoxic response, with IC₅₀ values of 12 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL, outperforming both the nanoparticles and the crude extract. These results highlight the scaffold’s enhanced therapeutic potential, likely due to improved nanoparticle delivery and bioavailability. The findings position starch/PVA/CuO-NPs nanoscaffolds as a promising platform for targeted cancer therapy, warranting further mechanistic and in vivo investigations.