Nanofibers in textile engineering: production techniques and functional applications

Nanofibers are ultrafine fibers having diameters below 1000 nm, with certain properties such as good strength, high surface area, and small pore size. These properties render them highly suitable for advanced functional applications, including filtration, antibacterial, medical, healthcare, and smart wearable devices. Nanofibers can be produced by various techniques such as electrospinning, centrifugal spinning, solution blow spinning, melt electrospinning, and force spinning. Each technique has its own advantages and limitations; nevertheless, electrospinning is the most common technique. Nanofibers can be produced from natural materials like cellulose, chitosan, silk, gelatin, and alginate, or from synthetic materials like PVA, PLA, PCL, PEG, and PEO. Natural polymers are safe and biodegradable, whereas synthetic polymers are strong and easier to process. Sometimes they are mixed to get better outcomes. Nanofibers are applied in many areas, such as water and air filtration, antibacterial clothing, wound healing, tissue scaffolds, and smart wearable devices and textiles. Moreover, they play a vital role in improving human health, safeguarding the environment, and developing technology. On the other hand, there are still challenges like safety issues, cost, and environmental impact. Thus, this review discusses materials used, production techniques, mechanisms, functional applications, and future possibilities of sustainable nanofibers in textile engineering.