Electrospun nanofiber-derived composite scaffolds for biomedical applications

Electrospun nanofibers are attracting considerable interest in biomedicine due to their extracellular matrix-mimicking microstructure, high specific surface area, and excellent drug loading capacity. Integrating these nanofibers with other biomaterials, such as hydrogels, three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffolds, films, sponges, microneedles, and nano/microparticles, endows the resulting composite scaffolds with structural versatility and functional flexibility, offering significant advantages for diverse biomedical applications. However, a comprehensive review dedicated to these electrospun nanofiber-based composite scaffolds is still lacking. This review provides a systematic overview of recent advancements in composite scaffolds derived from electrospun nanofibers, highlighting their biomedical relevance. We first provide a brief introduction to electrospun nanofibers. Subsequently, we present various types of composite scaffolds derived from electrospun nanofibers along with their properties. Their key applications in tissue engineering, anticancer therapy, adhesion prevention, and multifunctional therapy are then elaborated in detail. Finally, future research directions for enhancing the functionality of these composite scaffolds are proposed. This timely and comprehensive review provides valuable insights and serves as a guide for the future development and application of the composite scaffolds from electrospun nanofibers in the biomedical field.