Structure-property relationships in a graphene oxide-reinforced chitosan-carboxymethylcellulose-alginate composite for wound dressing applications

Multifunctional wound dressings require polysaccharide-based biomaterials combining structural integrity, antimicrobial activity, and cytocompatibility. In this study, graphene oxide (GO)-functionalized chitosan-carboxymethylcellulose-alginate (ChitCMCAlgGO) sponge scaffolds were developed to investigate the role of GO in modulating the molecular organization and functional properties of a multicomponent polysaccharide network. The composites were characterized using SEM, FT-IR spectroscopy, solid-state ¹³C CP/MAS NMR with T₁ρH and T₁ρC relaxation analyses, mechanical testing, fluid-handling evaluation, antimicrobial and antibiofilm assays, and cytocompatibility assessment according to ISO 10993. GO incorporation enhanced the mechanical performance of the scaffolds, increasing tensile strength from 0.032 to 0.122 MPa and maximum tensile force from 0.93 to 3.48 N, while improving elongation at maximum stress from 37.6% to 110%. Spectroscopic and NMR analyses revealed that GO did not modify the chemical structure of the polysaccharide components but likely promoted non-covalent interactions and altered polymer-chain dynamics, resulting in increased scaffold density and reduced porosity. Despite a moderate decrease in fluid uptake, GO-functionalized scaffolds maintained high absorption capacity (34.2 g g^-1 after 24 h). Moreover, GO improved antimicrobial activity against wound-associated pathogens and preserved cytocompatibility. These findings demonstrate that GO functions as a structural nanofiller regulating polysaccharide network organization, providing a rational strategy for designing advanced carbohydrate-based wound dressing materials.