Nanofibers: Production techniques and applications

The utilization of nano-sized structures has become a field of great interest in the recent years. Nanofibers are ultra-fine filaments that have a diameter in nano scale. They can be classified mainly into core-shell, hollow and porous nanofibers. Plenty of advantages associated with nanofibers are introduced. A variety of these properties including mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical and magnetic are discussed. Diverse techniques are used for production of nanofibers, such as electrospinning, self-assembly, phase separation, template synthesis. Different alignments can be obtained by minor changes in electrospinning set-up. Characterization and evaluation of nanofibers can be done via a number of methods which involve X-ray diffraction, light spectroscopy, TEM, SEM, AFM, DSC as well as tests for thickness and tensile strength. Utilization of nanofibers as a drug delivery system is a promising field of applications. Numerous approaches demonstrate drug loading to reduce burst release of other conventional dosage forms and provide sustained release over prolonged period of time. They are successfully employed in wound dressing, cancer therapy, gene and growth factor delivery. They are also involved in tissue engineering. Many studies elucidate bone, cartilage, tendons, dental, cardiovascular, neural and skin tissue engineering. This chapter mainly focuses on methods of preparation and applications that can come in handy for the reader.