Challenges and Opportunities Associated with the Development of Functionalized Electrospun Fibers

Electrospinning is a cost-effective and versatile technique for producing highly porous and functional fiber mats from micro/nanofibers as building blocks. Electrospun fibers exhibit large surface-area-to-volume ratio and porosity, tunable chemistry, and morphology all of which find essential applications in diverse healthcare fields such as biomedical engineering, encapsulation of bioactive compounds, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. Organic and inorganic electrospun fibers are also extensively researched in catalysis, environmental protection, energy storage, water purification, surface coating, and smart textiles. The flexible arrangement of the electrospinning setup and the variety of its influential operating parameters bring challenges and opportunities to the manufacturing of advanced adaptive materials. This chapter overviews the electrospinning fundamentals, covering the principles, set-ups, and the major operating and solution-processing parameters that influence the fiber morphology and texture. The subsequent sections delve into various methods for preparing functionalized electrospun nanofibers, addressing associated challenges and opportunities. This exploration aims to provide insights into the landscape of electrospinning, highlighting its potential for innovation in various domains, from advanced technologies to medical applications.