Advanced polymeric metal/metal oxide bionanocomposite using seaweed Laurencia dendroidea extract for antiprotozoal, anticancer, and photocatalytic applications

Biosynthesized nanoparticles are gaining popularity due to their distinctive biological applications as well as bioactive secondary metabolites from natural products that contribute in green synthesis. This study reports a facile, ecofriendly, reliable, and cost-effective synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs), and polymeric PVP-silver-copper oxide nanocomposite using ethanol extract of seaweed and were evaluated for antiprotozoal, anticancer and photocatalytic potential. The nanostructures of the AgNPs, CuONPs, and polymeric PVP-Ag-CuO nanocomposite were confirmed by different spectroscopic and microscopic procedures. The UV-vis spectrum displayed distinct absorption peaks at 440, 350, and 470 nm for AgNPs, CuONPs, and polymeric Ag-CuO nanocomposite, respectively. The average particles size of the formed AgNPs, CuONPs, and Ag-CuO nanocomposite was 25, 28, and 30 nm, respectively with zeta potential values -31.7 ± 0.6 mV, -17.6 ± 4.2 mV, and -22.9 ± 4.45 mV. The microscopic investigation of biosynthesized nanomaterials revealed a spherical morphological shape with average crystallite sizes of 17.56 nm (AgNPs), 18.21 nm (CuONPs), and 25.46 nm (PVP-Ag-CuO nanocomposite). The antiprotozoal potential of green synthesized nanomaterials was examined against and parasites. The polymeric PVP-Ag-CuO nanocomposite exerted the highest antiprotozoal effect with IC values of 17.32 ± 1.5 and 17.48 ± 4.2 µM, in contrast to AgNPs and CuONPs. The anticancer potential of AgNPs, CuONPs, and polymeric PVP-Ag-CuO nanocomposite against HepG2 cancer cell lines revealed that all the nanomaterials were effective and the highest anticancer potential was displayed by PVP-Ag-CuO nanocomposite with IC values 91.34 µg mL at 200 µg mL concentration. Additionally, PVP-Ag-CuO nanocomposite showed strong photocatalytic effect. Overall, this study suggested that the biogenic synthesized nanomaterials AgNPs, CuONPs, and polymeric PVP-Ag-CuO nanocomposite using ethanol extract of seaweed possesses promising antiprotozoal anticancer and photocatalytic effect and could be further exploited for the development of antiprotozoal and anticancer therapeutics agents.