Nanofibers as novel drug carrier – An overview

Presently polymer nanofibers have received much attention due to their unique properties such as large surface area, high porosity, small pore size, superior mechanical properties and ease of addition of surface functionalities compared with any other material. Nanofibers particularly polymeric nanofiber prepared by electrospinning process can be used as carriers for the controlled drug delivery of bioactive molecules such as cytokines, growth factors, anticancer drugs, enzymes and certain vitamins. This article presents an overview of nanofibers, various techniques involved in fabrication of nanofibers, their characterization, parameters affecting electrospinning process and their applications.