Advances in Light-Responsive Smart Multifunctional Nanofibers: Implications for Targeted Drug Delivery and Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Oncology

Background:

• Traditional chemotherapy faces challenges including poor solubility, low selectivity, and off-target side effects.
• Nanofiber-based drug delivery systems show promise for cancer therapy due to high surface area, controlled release, and biocompatibility.
• Electrospinning and forcespinning are key methods for producing nanofibers, with forcespinning offering higher throughput and 3D structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current trends and applications of light-responsive and dual-stimuli-responsive nanofibers in cancer therapy.
• To highlight the functionalization of nanofiber surfaces for targeted delivery and controlled release.
• To discuss emerging nano-in-nanofiber systems for enhanced precision tumor targeting and combination therapy.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on smart nanofibers for drug delivery.
• Analysis of electrospinning and forcespinning techniques for nanofiber production.
• Investigation of stimuli-responsive functionalization strategies for targeted cancer therapy.

Main Results:

• Nanofibers provide tunable porosity, high drug loading, and efficient mass transport for controlled drug delivery.
• Surface functionalization enables target-specific delivery and release, with stimuli-responsive systems offering external control.
• Forcespinning surpasses electrospinning in production rate and generates 3D nanofiber structures.

Conclusions:

• Smart nanofibers, particularly light-responsive and dual-stimuli-responsive types, represent a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy.
• Functionalized nanofibers and nano-in-nanofiber systems offer potential for dual-controlled drug release and high-precision tumor targeting.
• These advanced materials hold promise for future diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including combination cancer therapy.