Medical Applications of Functional Electrospun Nanofibers - A Review

Abstract

Electrospinning is one of the most extensively used technique in the early 21st century, due to its adaptability and potential for applications in various domains. Electrospun nanofibers are used in many fields, for example nanoelectronics, optical devices, protective clothing, sound absorption, nano membranes and many biomedical applications. This review paper provides a summary of the electrospinning process, polymer solution and work parameters that influence the nanofibers manufacture, focusing on subjects related to electrospun nanofibers that are used for medical applications such as: wound healing, artificial skin, selective separation, immobilization of active agents and molecules, scaffold for tissue engineering, nervous system and bone tissue engineering, drug delivery. New groups of polymer materials and new generations of composite and nanostructural materials and their new applicability in the medical field are reviewed. The paper ends with perspectives and future directions for design, manufacture and utilization electrospun nanofibers for medical applications.