Physico-chemical, in-vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial evaluation of L-valine functionalised CuO NPs on polyvinyl alcohol and blended carboxymethyl cellulose films

ABSTRACT

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.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• CuO nanoparticles
• L-Valine
• cytotoxicity
• food packaging
• polyvinyl alcohol

Abbreviations:

• F1: PVA
• F2: PVA/CuO NPs
• F3: PVA/CuO NPs/L-valine
• F4: PVA/CMC/CuO NPs/L-valine
• NCs: nanocomposite films

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to UGC for award of Major Research project and VGST, Govt. of Karnataka for SMYSR award and K-FIST-LEVEL-II for financial support to KK.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.