Nanofiber-Based Drug Delivery Systems: A Review on Its Applications, Challenges, and Envisioning Future Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Nanofibers possess unique properties like large surface area, high porosity, and mechanical strength, making them promising for drug delivery.
• Various fabrication techniques allow for tunable nanofiber characteristics, including size, shape, and biodegradability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of nanofiber characteristics, types, fabrication methods, and applications.
• To explore the potential of nanofibers in drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and biosensing.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on nanofiber fabrication and applications.
• Analysis of different nanofiber types (blended, core-shell, layer-by-layer) for drug delivery.
• Discussion of electrospinning and coaxial electrospinning techniques.

Main Results:

• Nanofibers enable targeted drug administration with controlled release and prolonged circulation.
• Core-shell nanofibers fabricated via coaxial electrospinning offer enhanced drug protection and controlled release kinetics.
• Nanofibers show enhanced bioactivity and biocompatibility for tissue engineering applications.

Conclusions:

• Nanofibers hold significant potential to revolutionize medical treatments across various therapeutic areas.
• Addressing challenges in production, reproducibility, and scalability is crucial for advancing nanofiber-based drug delivery.