FABRICATION OF MULTISCALE POLYMERIC NANOSCAFFOLDS LOADED WITH GREEN SYNTHESIZED CuO NANOPARTICLES FROM Padina tetrastromatica EXTRACT FOR ENHANCED ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

This study developed an eco-friendly approach for synthesizing copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Padina tetrastromatica brown algae extract and incorporated them into starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanoscaffolds for antimicrobial applications. The green-synthesized CuO NPs exhibited a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 273 nm (UV-Vis), while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed Cu-O bonding (602.84 cm⁻¹, 433.39 cm⁻¹) and scaffold functional groups (e.g., O-H, C-O-C). X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed monoclinic tenorite phase CuO NPs (JCPDS 05-0661) embedded in semi crystalline scaffolds (17.1% crystallinity). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed uniform, porous nanofibers (diameter ~108 nm) with well-dispersed NPs, and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated thermal stability up to 300°C. The nanoscaffolds demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity against Gram negative (Escherichia coli: 31±0.32 mm; Klebsiella pneumoniae: 28±0.13 mm), Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus: 26±0.26 mm), and fungal pathogens (Aspergillus niger: 24±0.28 mm), outperforming individual components (extract, CuO NPs) and nearing standard drug efficacy (ciprofloxacin, voriconazole). The synergistic effects of CuO NPs and the polymer matrix highlight the scaffold’s potential as a biodegradable, broad-spectrum antimicrobial material for wound dressings and tissue engineering. This study underscores the viability of algal mediated green synthesis in developing sustainable biomedical nanocomposites.