A potential photocatalytic, antimicrobial and anticancer activity of chitosan-copper nanocomposite

•Chitosan-copper (CS-Cu) nanocomposite was elucidated by several characterization techniques.•Efficiency of CS-Cu composite was exploited in organic dye pollutant removal.•CS-Cu nanocomposite, an advanced material acts as a photocatalyst, drug resistant antimicrobials and anticancer agents. In this study, chitosan-copper (CS-Cu) nanocomposite was synthesized without the aid of any external chemical reducing agents. The optical, structural, spectral, thermal and morphological analyses were carried out by several techniques. The prepared nanocomposite acts as a photocatalyst for the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Conge red (CR) dyes under visible light irradiation. The pseudo first order kinetics was derived according to Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) model. The nanocomposite also proved to be an excellent antimicrobial agent against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; and also show activity against fungus. The advanced material was used for the major research areas which include photocatalytic materials for waste water treatment; biological applications in the development of drug resistant antimicrobials and anticancer agents.