Smart Biomaterials from Electrospun Chitosan Nanofibers by Functionalization and Blending in Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Nowadays, nanotechnology has impacted on the generation of novel structured nanofibers for a variety of biomedical applications on a sustainable platform. These nanofibers are mostly prepared using electrospinning techniques, and this had drawn enormous attention worldwide. Chitosan, which is a natural cationic polymer, has gained considerably in the biomedical field, and its nanofibers are tactfully used as a promising candidate for anticancer delivery, enzyme immobilization, and as imaging agents. However, the sustained delivery of bioactive compounds through nanofiber scaffolds at target sites remains a critical challenge. The chitosan-based nanofibers owing to their suitable biocompatibility attributes, is considered as the best materials used for different tissue engineering applications. However, the chitosan nanofibers have less mechanical strength, superhydrophobicity and are immunogenic, rendering them unsuitable for biomedical applications. Nevertheless, the chemical functionalization of chitosan with bioactive compounds or blending it with other polymers provides a solution to these limitations resulting in smart biomaterials. These functionalized materials from chitosan are appropriate for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, gene manipulation, drug delivery, biosensors, analytics, air/water purification and 3D cell culture. In this regard, this chapter summarizes remarkable developments accomplished from using chitosan-based nanofibers for prospects to a better understanding of different technological advancements.