Abstract
The electrospinning process has gained popularity due to its ease of use, simplicity and diverse applications. The properties of electrospun fibers can be controlled by modifying either process variables (e.g., applied voltage, solution flow rate, and distance between charged capillary and collector) or polymeric solution properties (e.g., concentration, molecular weight, viscosity, surface tension, solvent volatility, conductivity, and surface charge density). However, many variables affecting electrospinning are interdependent. An optimized electrospinning process is one in which these parameters remain constant and continuously produce nanofibers consistent in physicochemical properties. In addition, nozzle configurations, such as single nozzle, coaxial, multi-jet electrospinning, have an impact on the fiber characteristics. The polymeric solution could be aqueous, a polymeric melt or an emulsion, which in turn leads to different types of nanofiber formation. Nanofiber properties can also be modified by polarity inversion and by varying the collector design. The active moiety is incorporated into polymeric fibers by blending, surface modification or emulsion formation. The nanofibers can be further modified to deliver multiple drugs, and multilayer polymer coating allows sustained release of the incorporated active moiety. Electrospun nanofibers prepared from polymers are used to deliver antibiotic and anticancer agents, DNA, RNA, proteins and growth factors. This review provides a compilation of studies involving the use of electrospun fibers in biomedical applications with emphasis on nanoparticle-impregnated nanofibers.
Highlights
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, Department of Surgery (Dentistry), University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
The type of electrospinning process can have a significant impact on fiber formation in addition to the process and solution parameters
The electrospinning process has generated a lot of interest in various medical applications due to its ease of use, adaptability and flexibility in controlling the fiber diameter from the micrometer down to the nanometer range
Summary
Electrospinning is a process of forming micro/nanometer-sized polymeric fibers, either hollow or solid, with the application of the electric force on the polymeric solution at the tip of a conducting tube. It is one of the most commonly used techniques to obtain continuous fibers in the nanometer size range [1,2,3]. 1960s were were limited limited and and mainly mainly focused focused on on obtaining uniform-sizedparticle/fibers, particle/fibers, decreasing theunderstanding size, understanding and optimizing obtaining uniform-sized decreasing the size, and optimizing parameters, parameters, andthe designing the instruments theprocess. 1990s, the was up by and designing instruments [5,6]. 1990s,Inthe wasprocess taken up bytaken educational educational institutions and, since many studies have been carried out on the versatility of institutions and, since many studies have been carried out on the versatility of manufacturing manufacturing and the of the electrospun and the applications of applications the electrospun particles [2]. particles [2]
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