Marine cuttlebone-derived chitosan nanoparticles as natural antioxidants for oxidative stress management

Marine biopolymers are a resource that is underutilized in the creation of sustainable biomedical materials. The cuttlebone of Sepia brevimana was used to create chitosan nanoparticles in this work, and their antioxidant capacity in managing oxidative stress was assessed. Although chitosan is well-known for its bioactivity, its conversion into nanoscale particles improves its solubility, bioavailability, and functional performance, filling a gap in the use of marine trash for valuable biomedical applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were all used to successfully extract and analyze the nanoparticles. XRD showed semi-crystalline characteristics typical of chitosan nanoparticles, FTIR verified the existence of distinctive functional groups, and FESEM showed a porous morphology with particle sizes ranging from 49 to 119 nm. DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, and ferrous ion chelation assays were used to measure antioxidant activity. Chitosan nanoparticles showed 111.60% ferrous ion chelation at 10 mg/ml, 79.20% superoxide radical scavenging at 1.6 mg/ml, and 71.17% DPPH scavenging activity at 10 mg/ml. The nanoparticles shown concentration-dependent benefits, indicating their potential as natural substitutes, even if traditional antioxidants including ascorbic acid, α tocopherol, and EDTA showed better efficacy. This work is remarkable since it turns cuttlebone bio waste into useful nanoparticles with proven antioxidant effectiveness. This work creates a sustainable path for the production of bioactive materials that can reduce oxidative stress, a major contributor to chronic illnesses, by connecting marine biotechnology with nanomedicine. The results establish the foundation for the development of scalable formulations, stability testing, and regulatory paperwork required for clinical translation. They also offer quantitative proof of antioxidant effectiveness. This study highlights the potential of chitosan nanoparticles made from marine cuttlebone as environmentally friendly antioxidants, supporting both biomedical innovation and the use of circular bioresources. • Marine cuttlebone waste converted into chitosan nanoparticles. • Nanoparticles show 49–119 nm porous, semi-crystalline structure. • Strong antioxidant activity via DPPH, superoxide, chelation assays. • Sustainable nanomaterial for oxidative stress-related applications.