Generic placeholder image

Current Pharmaceutical Design

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Smart Electrospun Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release: Recent Advances and New Perspectives

Author(s): Lin Weng and Jingwei Xie

Volume 21, Issue 15, 2015

Page: [1944 - 1959] Pages: 16

DOI: 10.2174/1381612821666150302151959

Price: $65

Abstract

In biological systems, chemical molecules or ions often release upon certain conditions, at a specific location, and over a desired period of time. Electrospun nanofibers that undergo alterations in the physicochemical characteristics corresponding to environmental changes have gained considerable interest for various applications. Inspired by biological systems, therapeutic molecules have been integrated with these smart electrospun nanofibers, presenting activation-modulated or feedback-regulated control of drug release. Compared to other materials like smart hydrogels, environment-responsive nanofiber-based drug delivery systems are relatively new but possess incomparable advantages due to their greater permeability, which allows shorter response time and more precise control over the release rate. In this article, we review the mechanisms of various environmental parameters functioning as stimuli to tailor the release rates of smart electrospun nanofibers. We also illustrate several typical examples in specific applications. We conclude this article with a discussion on perspectives and future possibilities in this field.

Keywords: Electrospinning, nanofibers, controlled release, drug delivery, stimuli-responsive.


Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy