Electromechanically active multicomponent biopolymer electrospun nanofibrous wound dressings reinforced with green-synthesized copper nanoparticles and heteroatom-doped carbon dots.

Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds have emerged as promising wound dressing materials because they combine structural flexibility with the mechanical resilience required to accommodate dynamic physiological conditions while promoting tissue repair. In this study, four multilayered electrospun nanofibrous mats were fabricated from biocompatible blends of chitosan, gelatin, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, and either poly-l-lysine or polyethylene oxide, incorporating green-synthesized copper nanoparticles and heteroatom-doped carbon dots. A coaxial electrospinning strategy produced core/shell/core-shell fibres that enabled structural support and bioactive components to be integrated within distinct domains. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed continuous fibres with relatively uniform morphology, minimal bead formation, and diameters ranging from 150 to 306 nm, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the distribution of copper nanoparticles and carbon dots throughout the fibrous network. Surface characterization demonstrated composition-dependent differences in wettability and zeta potential, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the preservation of characteristic functional groups after fabrication. Thermal analyses indicated satisfactory stability with composition-dependent behaviour. Mechanical testing showed that CGCaP/PEO-H exhibited greater tensile strength and stiffness, whereas CGCaP/PLL-H demonstrated higher elasticity and extensibility, indicating suitability for wound sites with different mechanical requirements. Dynamic mechanical analysis and piezoresponse force microscopy further demonstrated composition-dependent viscoelastic behaviour and intrinsic piezoelectric activity. Direct-contact cytocompatibility studies confirmed that both optimized dressings were non-cytotoxic toward L-929 fibroblast cells. Overall, these findings demonstrate that tailored scaffold composition and architecture can produce mechanically robust, cytocompatible, and intrinsically electromechanically active nanofibrous dressings with strong potential for advanced wound management and tissue regeneration.