Advances in electrospinning approaches for the fabrication of therapeutically relevant nanofibers

Electrospinning is a versatile fabrication technique that applies an electrical field to viscous polymer solutions or melts to produce continuous nanofibrous materials with high surface area -to-volume ratios and designability. Although the electrospinning setup is relatively simple and efficient, variations in system components and processing parameters can significantly influence fiber morphology, diameter, alignment, and functional performance. Electrospun nanofibers have attracted substantial interest in biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery and tissue engineering, due to their design versatility and ability to mimic the native extracellular matrix. This review begins with an overview of the fundamental electrospinning mechanism and experimental setup, including different spinneret configurations and collector designs. It then examines commonly used electrospinning materials, encompassing both natural and synthetic polymers, and highlights their advantages and limitations. Finally, recent advances in electrospun nanofiber applications for drug delivery, such as cancer therapeutics, antiviral treatments, and ocular disease management, and tissue engineering applications, including skin, cardiac, and renal tissues, are discussed. The review concludes with a brief outlook on emerging trends and future directions in the field. This study explored several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SciFinder up to April 2026.