Structure–property relationships in a graphene oxide-reinforced chitosan–carboxymethylcellulose–alginate composite for wound dressing applications
8 affiliations
- 1Pre-clinical Research Center, Wrocław Medical University Karola Marcinkowskiego 1 50-368 Wrocław Poland [email protected].
- 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology Wybrzeże S. Wyspiańskiego 27 50-370 Wrocław Poland.
- 3Centre for the Circular Economy, ŁUKASIEWICZ Research Network - Łódź Institute of Technology Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 19/27 90-570 Łódź Poland.
- 4Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wrocław Medical University Tytusa Chałubińskiego 4 50-368 Wrocław Poland.
- 5Division of Optical Spectroscopy, Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences Okólna 2 50-422 Wrocław Poland.
- 6Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STeBiCeF), University of Palermo Viale Delle Scienze, Bld. 16 and 17 90128 Palermo Italy.
- 7Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico Fisici Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 37 98158 Messina Italy.
- 8Department of Physics and Chemistry "Emilio Segrè", University of Palermo Viale Delle Scienze Bld. 17 90128 Palermo Italy.
Abstract
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.
Related
- Evaluation of Woven Hemp-Reinforced Polyfurfuryl Alcohol Resin Composites for High-Performance Natural Fibre Composite Applications
- ROLE OF HETEROCYCLIC SCAFFOLDS IN MODERN DRUG DESIGN: STRUCTURE–ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS, THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS AND EMERGING COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES
- Recent Advances in Polysaccharides from Sophora flavescens Ait.: Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Pharmacological Effects, Structure-Activity Relationships, and Potential Applications
- 1,3,4-Oxadiazole-sulfonamide hybrids: recent advances in biological activities, structure-activity relationships, and therapeutic applications.
- Zirconium-Based Metal–Organic Framework Nanomaterials for Antibacterial Applications: Nanoscale Design and Structure–Function Relationships
BibTeX
@article{sarelo2026structureproperty,
title = {{Structure–property relationships in a graphene oxide-reinforced chitosan–carboxymethylcellulose–alginate composite for wound dressing applications}},
author = {Przemysław Sareło and Maria Wiśniewska-Wrona and Monika Sikora and Magdalena Pajączkowska and Joanna Nowicka and Yuriy Gerasymchuk and Maria Luisa Saladino and Patrizia Cancemi and Martina Maria Calvino and Giuseppe Lazzara and Maria Szymonowicz and Beata Sobieszczańska and Magdalena Wawrzyńska},
journal = {RSC advances},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1039/d6ra09378g},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13717623},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Structure–property relationships in a graphene oxide-reinforced chitosan–carboxymethylcellulose–alginate composite for wound dressing applications
AU - Przemysław Sareło
AU - Maria Wiśniewska-Wrona
AU - Monika Sikora
AU - Magdalena Pajączkowska
AU - Joanna Nowicka
AU - Yuriy Gerasymchuk
AU - Maria Luisa Saladino
AU - Patrizia Cancemi
AU - Martina Maria Calvino
AU - Giuseppe Lazzara
AU - Maria Szymonowicz
AU - Beata Sobieszczańska
AU - Magdalena Wawrzyńska
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - RSC advances
DO - 10.1039/d6ra09378g
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13717623
AB - 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.
SN - 2046-2069
ER -