Phyto-assisted synthesized CuO NPs embedded in crosslinked zein/alginate composite films for hastening wound healing and tissue regeneration in rats bio-template.

The growing demand for sustainable and active packaging materials has led to the exploration of biodegradable polymers reinforced with functional nanomaterials. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based films were synthesized via solution casting method, incorporating copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and rutin to improve their physicochemical and antimicrobial properties for food packaging applications. The incorporation of CuO NPs contributed to notable improvements in mechanical strength, water solubility, water vapor permeability, moisture adsorption, and antimicrobial efficacy against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans. PRC-3 film exhibited zone of inhibition of 38.00 ± 0.66, 29.66 ± 0.44, and 26.66 ± 0.44 mm against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans, respectively. The films also showed excellent biodegradability, reinforcing their promise as an environmentally responsible packaging alternative. Rutin release study revealed minimal diffusion into aqueous media, supporting the films potential for prolonged active function. Notably, the practical application test involving garlic storage demonstrated effective preservation of quality for up to 23 days. Altogether, these results underline the potential of PVA/Rutin/CuO (PRC) nanocomposite films as multifunctional, eco-friendly candidates for next-generation active food packaging systems.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-18888-w.

Biodegradable chitosan-based films decorated with biosynthetic copper oxide nanoparticle for post-harvest tomato preservation.

Different concentrations of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) (0.5, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 wt%) were embedded into the polyethylene oxide/Chitosan (PEO/Chitosan) polymer blend for use in optoelectronic devices. Insertion of CuO NPs rearranged the molecules of PEO/Chitosan, resulting in increasing the crystallinity of nanocomposite samples. The crystal size of CuO NPs was to be 20 nm from the Scherer equation. The homogeneity and compatibility between PEO, Chitosan, and PEO/Chitosan/CuO NPs were confirmed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR). The appearance of bands at 709 cm−1 and 483 cm−1 confirmed the interaction between CuO NPs and PEO/Chitosan. Incorporating CuO NPs into the PEO/Chitosan blend also resulted in small round nanoparticles and white spots on the surface of PEO/Chitosan, which were cleared from Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) images. Roughness parameters affirmed the increase in surface roughness with adding CuO NPs which leads to an increase in the active site in the blend, this property is useful in many applications. With the introduction of CuO NPs, the peaks at 211 and 278 nm are moved to longer wavelengths. Also, the absorbance of the nanocomposite samples increases with CuO NPs. This demonstrated that PEO/Chitosan and CuO NPs were able to form a complex. The measured absorption edges, extinction coefficient, and band gap energy confirm that the produced nanocomposite films can be employed in optical devices. With the incorporation of CuO NPs to PEO/Chitosan, electrical measurements like dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and ac conductivity were reduced, allowing these nanocomposite samples to be employed in microelectronic applications.

Effect of nanocellulose on mechanical and barrier properties of PVA–banana pseudostem fiber composite films

Green synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles and their applications particularly in biomedical and agricultural sciences are reaping importance nowadays. This work reports the biosynthesis of cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Cu2O NPs) using grape juice and its effective antimicrobial activity which displayed comparatively less and/or no toxic profile. Present nanofabrication is very handy, cost-effective, eco-friendly, and reproducible. The as-synthesized Cu2O NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, UV-visible and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy techniques. Also, the antimicrobial assays of biosynthesized Cu2O NPs were carried out against the Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans utilizing disc diffusion method. Results showed that Cu2O NPs may serve as an antimicrobial agent.

Chloroaurate acid (HAuCl4) was used as an oxidant and aniline (ANI) was used as a reducing agent to prepare a polyaniline–gold (PANI-Au) composite film by in situ polymerization. The formation of the composite film was monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The effects of the concentrations of HAuCl4 and ANI as well as the reaction temperature on the formation of the PANI-Au composite film are discussed. The kinetics of the reaction were investigated by the QCM technique. The results indicate that the kinetics of the reaction are of order 0.5 with respect to HAuCl4 and 1.5 with respect to aniline. The film growth rate increased with increasing ANI, HAuCl4 concentration and reaction temperature. The activation energy calculated from the temperature dependence of the growth rate was 40.32 ± 0.15 kJ/mol. In situ UV-visible spectra of the reaction process were obtained and compared to the reaction process using the QCM technique.

In the present investigation, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were efficiently synthesized by Pterolobium hexapetalum leaf extract. The synthesized CuO NPs were characterized by various spectral and microscopic techniques such as UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction investigation (XRD), and field emission-scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The UV–visible spectrum of CuO NPs exhibited maximum absorption at 274 nm and the FT-IR spectrum, the band appeared at 502 cm−1 for CuO NPs. XRD, TEM, and EDX studies confirmed the formation of CuO NPs, which were predominantly spherical in shape with the particle size 10–50 nm. The photocatalytic efficiency of the green synthesized CuO NPs was verified by the reactive black-5 dye within 2 h UV light irradiation which proved the photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles in water treatment. The biosynthesized CuO NPs was found to possess effective antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus (15 mm), Bacillus subtilis (15 mm), Escherichia coli (14 mm), and anticancer activity (human breast cancer cells:) with striking inhibitions and cell death and the apoptotic activity of MDA-MB-231 cell line through reactive oxygen species generation. Hence, the greener approach synthesis of CuO NPs may be used as a potential catalytic and chemotherapeutic agent.

Chemical castration represents a non-surgical alternative to achieve male sterility by inducing azoospermia, with growing interest in nanoparticle-based agents owing to their targeted toxicity. This study aimed to determine whether intratesticular administration of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) is effective in the chemical castration of male mice, and whether biochemical and histological changes can be assessed. Fifty-six adult male mice were divided into seven groups (n = 8 per group): a surgically castrated cohort, a control group, a sham group, and four experimental groups receiving CuO NPs at concentrations of 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/mL. The assessment included fertility analysis after 30 days of treatment, sperm quality, testicular tissue, histological parameters, oxidative status, and gene expression. Testis weight, sperm parameters, and testosterone levels were significantly reduced by exposure to CuO NPs, but oxidative stress and DNA damage increased in a dose-dependent manner. Higher doses also decreased the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2) and increased that of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and caspase-3). The correlation between these alterations and lower fertility indices highlighted the reproductive toxicity of CuO NPs. There were no noticeable differences between the control and sham groups for comparison. These findings suggest that intratesticular CuO NPs have potential as a method for chemical castration, offering a less invasive and more economical option for population-control applications.

A successful electrochemical study of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) polymer (SPEEK), and sulfonated polyether ether ketone-copper oxide (SPEEK/CuO) nanocomposite on bare gold electrodes was conducted. The synthesized CuO NPs and SPEEK/CuO nanocomposite were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The XRD showed that the diameter of the CuO NPs synthesized was 20.44 nm. The cyclic voltammetry properties of bare screen-print gold, SPEEK and SPEEK/CuO-modified electrodes were assessed in a 5 mM K3[Fe(CN)6] solution. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated electrodes investigated revealed that CuO NPs improved the electrochemical properties of SPEEK, and the quantum size effect indicated good adsorption by the SPEEK/CuO nanocomposite compared to the SPEEK polymer and the CuO NPs alone. Moreover, the Tafel values indicated the enhanced electrochemical performance of the other electrodes as compared with the SPEEK/CuO nanocomposite. This, therefore, confirmed the successful incorporation of CuO NPs into the SPEEK polymer, as the increased surface area and the interactions between the polymer matrix and CuO fillers improved the electrochemical performance of the electrode.

Preparation and tuning the optical and electrical properties of polyethylene oxide/polyvinyl alcohol/poly(3,4-thylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate/CuO-based quaternary nanocomposites for futuristic energy storage devices

Fabrication of CuO nanoparticles embedded novel chitosan/hydroxypropyl cellulose bio-nanocomposites for active packaging of jamun fruit

The novel L-valine functionalised polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/CuO NPs and PVA/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/Copper oxide nanocomposite (NCs) films were prepared by the solvent casting method. The required CuO NPs for NC films are prepared by the novel biogenic method using Euphorbia heterophylla plant leaves extract. Various spectroscopic techniques were employed for the characterisation of biogenic prepared CuO NPs and polymeric NC films prepared, namely X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy. In-vitro cytotoxicity of the prepared NC films showed cell viability (%) >80% against human embryonic kidney cell lines (for films F3 & F4). In addition, the prepared NC films (F3 & F4) exhibited potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity towards E. coli, S. aureus, C. tropicalis, and C. albicans. Furthermore, the prepared NCs films showed promising results in water contact angle (66.1%), water vapour permeability (28.09%), moisture retention capacity (94%), soil biodegradable test (42%), optical transparency (58.63%) and thermal properties. The obtained results suggested us the prepared PVA/CMC/CuO NPs films can be implemented in biomedical, environmental protection, and food packaging purposes.

Given the gradual development of drug resistance in different bacterial species, it is necessary to search for new drugs with effective broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. Therefore, recent studies on various nanometal oxides such as copper oxide and on antibacterial peptides including nisin as antibacterial agents are especially important. The present study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of nisin-conjugated copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on the genome of E. coli selected as a Gram-negative model. After being cultured in a Nutrient Broth medium, the bacteria were treated with CuO NPs at 15, 30, 40, and 60μg/mL, with nisin at 30, 60, 90, and 120μg/mL, and with nisin-conjugated CuO NPs at 10, 20, and 30μg/mL and were then incubated. The optical densities of the samples were read at 600nm and their DNA was extracted. RAPD-PCR was used to study genomic effects, and statistical analysis was performed employing NTSYS-PC based on the DICE coefficient, the similarity matrix, and the drawn dendrogram. Results showed that the combination of CuO NPs and nisin had synergistic effects and was able to inhibit growth more than either of them used alone. However, this combination had no synergistic effects on the genome and caused minimal changes in the DNA sequence.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and various concentrations of (5–25 wt%) alkali treated Limonia acidissima shell powder (LASP) was utilized to develop bio composite packaging films by solution casting method. The alkali treatment (5%NaOH) of the LASP particles were carried out to improve the interface adhesion between filler and PVA matrix and also remove non cellulosic contents from LASP. The biofilms were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analyzer, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Tensile test, UV–vis spectroscopy analysis, water uptake, water vapor permeability, and soil burial test. The bio composite films reinforced with alkali treated LASP particles and compatibilized matrix lead to notable increase in the mechanical, optical, and biodegradation properties when compared to the neat PVA film. The increase in thermal stability (13.49%) of (332.06°C) PVA/alkali‐treated LASP biofilm compared to that of pure PVA film (287.24°C). Tensile stress and young's modulus were enhanced to 57.03% and 83.35%, respectively, with the inclusion of alkali‐treated LASP (up to 20 wt%) in PVA film. Scanning electron microscope micrographs showed that, beyond the 20 wt% of the filler the irregularities emerged on the surface of the biofilms, consequently the mechanical and water barrier properties were diminished However, the PVA/alkali‐treated LASP biofilms absorb less water than pure PVA films. The increased water transport with in the films facilitated the biodegradation behavior (32.11% of weight loss in soil) of composite film. Hence the results suggested the composite films developed in the study to be an ideal material for packaging and cosmetics industries as well as adding the value to wood apple (Limonia acidissima) waste.

Myco-fabricated CuO NPs and chitosan-conjugated CuO nanoparticles using endophytic Aspergillus sp. JAWF3: Targeting E. coli outer membrane for enhanced antibacterial and biofilm inhibition