Applications of electrospun nanofibers in the biomedical field

Abstract

Electrospinning is a technology that has been widely used as a novel method for the generation of nano scale fibres. Electrospun fibres are used in a wide range of applications from electronics to textile. The viability and popularity of this technology can be evidenced by its ease of use and the simplicity of the science behind building the electrospinning machine. The generated fibres have a high surface area- to- volume ratio, the fibrous mats are highly porous and display excellent mechanical properties when compared to other materials of the same scale. In the past decade, this technology has taken off with the use of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. This review is a summary of the different ways in which electrospinning can be used in the biomedical field. This article analyzes the recent advances of this technology in tissue engineering, drug delivery and in enzyme immobilisation, which once again showcases the versatility of the electrospinning procedure.