Drug loading and delivery using nanofibers scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Electrospinning is a key technique for creating nanofiber scaffolds.
• These scaffolds possess high surface area and porous structures, ideal for carrying therapeutic agents.
• Recent advancements focus on optimizing nanofiber scaffolds for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review methods for incorporating drugs and biomolecules into electrospun nanofiber scaffolds.
• To highlight the diverse biomedical applications of these functionalized scaffolds.
• To provide examples of their use in various therapeutic areas.

Main Methods:

• Blending: Incorporating therapeutic agents directly into the polymer solution before electrospinning.
• Surface Modification: Altering the scaffold surface to enhance drug loading or release kinetics.
• Coaxial Electrospinning: Creating core-shell nanofibers for controlled release applications.
• Emulsion Methods: Encapsulating hydrophobic drugs within nanofibers.

Main Results:

• Various methods effectively integrate biomolecules and drugs into nanofiber scaffolds.
• Electrospun nanofibers demonstrate significant potential in transdermal systems and wound dressings.
• Applications extend to cancer therapy, growth factor delivery, nucleic acid delivery, and stem cell delivery.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun nanofiber scaffolds are versatile platforms for advanced drug and biomolecule delivery.
• The discussed fabrication and integration methods enable tailored therapeutic solutions.
• Nanofiber technology holds great promise for revolutionizing multiple areas of biomedicine.