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A copper oxide (CuO)-based nanocomposite with different concentrations of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and curcumin was synthesized for antibacterial applications. An electrospinning method was utilized to synthesize PAN/CuO and PAN/CuO/curcumin nanofibers, which were incorporated into a face mask to confer it with antimicrobial activity. The analysis of the XRD pattern of CuO confirmed the crystalline monoclinic phase. The FTIR peaks at 3439 cm−1, 1369 cm−1, and 3720 cm−1 were attributed to the O–H stretching band of water, stretching vibrations due to C＝O, and C–H stretching vibrations of the CH2 group of bonding from acrylonitrile, respectively, confirming the formation of PAN nanofibers. The peak at 668 cm−1 assigned to Cu–O stretching indicated the presence of CuO. A 7 mm-diameter PAN/CuO nanofiber zone could inhibit about a 15 mm zone of E. coli, whereas just a 3 mm-diameter PAN/CuO/curcumin nanofiber zone could inhibit about a 19 mm zone of E. coli. This indicated that the PAN/CuO/curcumin nanofibers have excellent antibacterial properties compared to the PAN/CuO nanofibers against Escherichia coli (E. coli). In contact angle, the PAN nanofibers were hydrophilic, whereas the PAN/CuO and PAN/CuO/curcumin nanofibers showed a hydrophobic nature. Hence, the present study indicates that PAN/CuO/curcumin nanofiber–based materials can efficiently protect against bacteria, and this would be an outstanding improvement for low-cost surgical face masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]