Enhanced biocompatibility and antibacterial efficacy of CuO-HAp nanocomposite for hard tissue regeneration and repair

Abstract

This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of CuO-decorated HAp composites for potential biomedical applications, particularly in hard tissue regeneration. XRD analysis confirmed the coexistence of CuO and HAp phases, with CuO influencing the crystallinity of HAp without altering its lattice parameters. Williamson-Hall (W-H) method analysis showed a significant increase in the crystallite size of CuO by approximately 92.7%, while the crystallite size of HAp decreased by 19.4% in the CuO-HAp composite. FTIR spectroscopy verified the successful integration of CuO and HAp in the nanocomposite while SEM and TEM revealed the morphological interaction between CuO nanoflakes and HAp nanorods. The antimicrobial activity of CuO-HAp demonstrated an 8.7% larger zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli compared to Staphylococcus aureus. The composite also exhibited superior antioxidant properties compared to ascorbic acid and showed improved hemocompatibility. Zebrafish embryo toxicity assays confirmed the non-toxic nature of the composite. Although in vitro cytotoxicity assays with Saos-2 cells indicated slightly reduced viability and proliferation due to CuO’s inherent cytotoxicity, the CuO-HAp composite enhanced cellular responses, highlighting its potential for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications.