Electrospun Nanofibers: Shaping the Future of Controlled and Responsive Drug Delivery

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery systems (DDS) introduce a revolutionary means of administering pharmaceuticals, holding promise for both improved drug efficacy and reduced side effects. These biopolymer nanofiber membranes, distinguished by their high surface area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, are ideally suited for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. One of their standout attributes is the capability to offer the controlled release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), allowing custom-tailored release profiles to address specific diseases and administration routes. Moreover, stimuli-responsive electrospun DDS can adapt to conditions at the drug target, enhancing the precision and selectivity of drug delivery. Such localized API delivery paves the way for superior therapeutic efficiency while diminishing the risk of side effects and systemic toxicity. Electrospun nanofibers can foster better patient compliance and enhanced clinical outcomes by amplifying the therapeutic efficiency of routinely prescribed medications. This review delves into the design principles and techniques central to achieving controlled API release using electrospun membranes. The advanced drug release mechanisms of electrospun DDS highlighted in this review illustrate their versatility and potential to improve the efficacy of medical treatments.

Heat’s Role in Solution Electrospinning: A Novel Approach to Nanofiber Structure Optimization

“…13−16 Electrospinning stands as a versatile electrohydrodynamic atomization technique for fabricating porous fiber mats, ranging from nano-to microscale fibers, utilizing a high voltage to transform various polymers into fibers. 17 Predominantly, solution electrospinning is applied, which involves dissolving polymers in suitable solvents to create fiber-forming solutions. 18 In contrast, melt electrospinning, a solvent-free approach, uses heat to liquefy polymers, enabling fiber stretching during electrospinning.…”

“…The presence of extremely small intrafiber pores can significantly amplify the surface area, thus enhancing the efficiency and capacity of these materials for diverse applications, ranging from advanced filtration systems to high-performance catalytic reactors. − Electrospinning stands as a versatile electrohydrodynamic atomization technique for fabricating porous fiber mats, ranging from nano- to microscale fibers, utilizing a high voltage to transform various polymers into fibers . Predominantly, solution electrospinning is applied, which involves dissolving polymers in suitable solvents to create fiber-forming solutions . In contrast, melt electrospinning, a solvent-free approach, uses heat to liquefy polymers, enabling fiber stretching during electrospinning .…”

“… 17 Predominantly, solution electrospinning is applied, which involves dissolving polymers in suitable solvents to create fiber-forming solutions. 18 In contrast, melt electrospinning, a solvent-free approach, uses heat to liquefy polymers, enabling fiber stretching during electrospinning. 19 Despite its potential, melt electrospinning’s complexity, the requirement for a high processing temperature to reach the melting point of polymers, and the tendency to produce larger fiber sizes (usually tens to several hundred micrometers) have limited its popularity compared to solution electrospinning.…”