GREEN-ENGINEERED MULTISCALE STARCH/PVA NANOFIBROUS SCAFFOLDS EMBEDDED WITH CUO NANOPARTICLES FROM SARGASSUM ILICIFOLIUM FOR POTENT ANTIMICROBIAL PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This study presents the development of a sustainable antimicrobial nanofibrous system by incorporating biosynthesized CuO NPs (copper oxide nanoparticles) into electrospun polymeric matrices. Aqueous extracts of the brown marine alga Sargassum ilicifolium were utilized for ultrasonic-assisted extraction, enabling an environmentally friendly nanoparticle synthesis process. The resulting CuO NPs exhibited nanoscale dimensions (~108 nm), monoclinic crystallinity, and moderate dispersion stability (−18.3 mV), as confirmed through UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, and DLS analyses. These nanoparticles were homogeneously embedded within starch/PVA solutions and electrospun to produce uniform, bead-free fibers with a porous architecture. Antimicrobial performance was evaluated against pathogenic microorganisms. The nanoscaffolds (50 µg/mL) demonstrated superior inhibitory activity compared to both the algal extract and standalone nanoparticles, with maximum zones observed for E. coli (31±0.16 mm) and Penicillium sp. (27±0.23 mm). The fabricated polymeric nanoscaffolds promoting effective microbial contact and sustained ion release, highlighting their potential as eco-friendly antimicrobial biomaterials.