Recent developments in application of nanofibers

Abstract

Technological advancements in nanofibers and production technologies have led to nanofibers being applied in various applications. Nanofibers are produced by a variety of techniques such as electrospinning, drawing, self-assembly, phase separation, and others. Electrospinning is widely used due to its versatility and scalability. Nanofiber production by other techniques is still limited to the laboratory scale, hence the dominance of electrospinning. The versatility of nanofibers has seen them being used in various applications such as health, protection, clothing, filtration, packaging, and electronics. Their large surface area, small diameters, and porous structures make them good materials in these diverse fields. Nanofibers are incorporated with nanoparticles to enhance stability. In biomedical applications, nanofibers are used in drug delivery systems, wound healing, and tissue engineering because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability. In fields like protection, clothing, and packaging, nanofibers are used due to their large surface area, porosity, and flexibility. These properties also make nanofibers highly effective in filtration, where their small size and large surface area allow them to efficiently remove a significant number of contaminants. Additionally, nanofibers are utilized in the production of flexible electronics, enhancing comfort in wearable devices. Biopolymers are being adopted to address the environmental and health concerns of traditional nanofiber materials. Biopolymers are biodegradable and biocompatible; however, their stability can be affected by production and environmental conditions. This work highlights the applications of nanofibers, especially the environmentally friendly nanofiber applications in health, packaging, water treatment, protection, electronics, clothing, and technical textiles.