Electrospun Nanofibers for Biomedical, Sensing, and Energy Harvesting Functions

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Electrospinning, a century-old technique, has seen renewed innovation with nanomaterials, leading to advanced nanofibrous matrices.
• Improvements include tailored polymer compositions, nanoparticle surface functionalization, and material encapsulation within nanofibers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in electrospun nanofibers.
• Highlight novel applications in biomedical technologies, chemical/biological sensing, and energy harvesting for IoT devices.
• Explore the synergistic combination of electrospinning and 3D printing.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on electrospun nanofibers and their applications.
• Focus on material composition, functionalization, and integration with 3D printing.
• Analysis of energy harvesting, sensing, and biomedical applications.

Main Results:

• Electrospun nanofibers exhibit significant improvements in material properties and functionalities.
• Synergistic combination with 3D printing yields enhanced mechanical strength and membrane functionalities.
• Emerging applications in e-textiles, tactile sensing, and critical infrastructure protection are identified.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun nanofibers, especially when combined with 3D printing, present diverse and promising applications.
• Future research directions include further exploration of synergistic processes and addressing limitations.
• These advancements are crucial for developing next-generation IoT devices and technologies.