Use of electrospinning technique for biomedical applications

The electrospinning technique provides non-wovens to the order of few nanometers with large surface areas, ease of functionalisation for various purposes and superior mechanical properties. Also, the possibility of large scale productions combined with the simplicity of the process makes this technique very attractive for many different applications. Biomedical field is one of the important application areas among others utilising the technique of electrospinning like filtration and protective material, electrical and optical applications, sensors, nanofiber reinforced composites etc. Electrospinning assembly can be modified in different ways for combining materials properties with different morphological structures for these applications. The importance of electrospinning, in general, for biomedical applications like tissue engineering drug release, wound dressing, enzyme immobilization etc. is highlighted in this feature article. The focus is also on the types of materials that have been electrospun and the modifications that have been carried Out in conventional electrospinning apparatus keeping in view the specific needs for various biomedical applications. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.