Polymer nanocomposite prepared using copper oxide nanoparticles derived from Sterculia foetida leaf extract with biological applications

The new hydrogel network was prepared by using glutaric acid, ethylene glycol and acrylic acid (GEA) through condensation polymerization without cross linker and it was fabricated by incorporation of green synthesized CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs). The CuO NPs were synthesized by green route using Sterculia foetida leaf aqueous extract. Green synthesized CuO NPs were incorporated with GEA hydrogel resultant the GEA-CuO nanocomposite. The formation of green synthesized CuO NPs and GEA-CuO nanocomposite was confirmed by UV-Visible and FT-IR spectrum. The structure of GEA hydrogel was determined by H-1 and C-13 NMR technique. Morphology of synthesized GEA hydrogel and GEA-CuO nanocomposite was observed as bulged layer and uneven plates with cavities in SEM analysis, moreover the size of the material was evaluated by TEM analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis has revealed the GEA-CuO nanocomposite owing significantly higher thermal stability than raw GEA hydrogel. However, biological effect of synthesized GEA hydrogel and GEA-CuO nanocomposite was scrutinized by antibacterial activity against selected bacterial organisms and anticancer activity against lung cancer cell line A549.