Critical attributes of nanofibers: preparation, drug loading, and tissue regeneration

The electrospinning technique for nanofiber production has opened new and interesting opportunities for tissue regeneration and treatment, because they allow biomimetic supports for cell growth to be designed and enable simultaneous delivery of diverse drugs in a controlled manner. In this review the process of electrospinning itself and the parameters affecting the electrospinning outcome are presented in detail. Critical issues related to nanofiber composition and drug loading and analytical tools for characterization and quality assurance of electrospun nanofibers are described. Recent findings about the response of cells grown on nanofibrillar supports, including cell adhesion, morphology, proliferation, and mobility, are also introduced. This review summarizes the progress that has been made in recent years on nanofibers for biomedical use and highlights the major challenges that still remain to be solved.