Sustainable fabrication of starch/PVA/CuO electrospun nanoscaffolds from Turbinaria ornata (marine macroalgae) extract: Physicochemical characterization and antidiabetic evaluation

This study presents an eco-friendly approach for synthesizing copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Turbinaria ornata marine algae extract and their incorporation into starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanofibers for antidiabetic applications. The biosynthesized CuO NPs were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), and DLS (dynamic light scattering), confirming their crystalline monoclinic structure (average size: 92.8 nm) and thermal stability. Electrospun starch/PVA/CuO nanoscaffolds exhibited uniform fiber morphology (150–300 nm diameter) with well-dispersed nanoparticles. In vitro antidiabetic assays revealed that the nanocomposite scaffolds demonstrated superior α-amylase (81.52%) and α-glucosidase (81.52%) inhibition at 100 μg/mL, outperforming both algal extract and bare CuO NPs, suggesting enhanced enzyme inhibition. The green synthesis route, coupled with electrospinning, offers a sustainable strategy for developing nanomaterial-based therapeutics for diabetes management. These findings highlight the potential of marine algae-mediated CuO NPs and biodegradable nanofibers as a biocompatible platform for metabolic disorder interventions.