Evolving Trends in Nanofibers for Topical Delivery of Therapeutics in Skin Disorders

Nanotechnology has yielded nanostructure-based drug deliveryapproaches,among which nanofibers have been explored and researched for the potentialtopical delivery of therapeutics. Nanofibers are filaments or thread-likestructures in the nanometer size range that are fabricated using variouspolymers, such as natural or synthetic polymers or their combination.The size or diameter of the nanofibers depends upon the polymers,the techniques of preparation, and the design specification. The fourmajor processing techniques, phase separation, self-assembly, templatesynthesis, and electrospinning, are most commonly used for the fabricationof nanofibers. Nanofibers have a unique structure that needs a multimethodapproach to study their morphology and characterization parameters.They are gaining attention as drug delivery carriers, and the substantiallyvast surface area of the skin makes it a potentially promising strategyfor topical drug products for various skin disorders such as psoriasis,skin cancers, skin wounds, bacterial and fungal infections, etc. However,the large-scale production of nanofibers with desired properties remainschallenging, as the widely used electrospinning processes have certainlimitations, such as poor yield, use of high voltage, and difficultyin achieving in situ nanofiber deposition on various substrates. Thisreview highlights the insights into fabrication strategies, applications,recent clinical trials, and patents of nanofibers for different skindisorders in detail. Additionally, it discusses case studies of itseffective utilization in the treatment of various skin disorders fora better understanding for readers.

Automated summary

Nanotechnology has developed nanostructure-based drug delivery approaches, particularly nanofibers for topical delivery of therapeutics. Nanofibers, which are fabricated using various polymers, have unique structures and require a multimethod approach for studying their morphology and characterization parameters. They show potential as drug delivery carriers for various skin disorders, but large-scale production remains challenging. This review provides insights into the fabrication strategies, applications, clinical trials, and patents of nanofibers for different skin disorders, along with case studies for a better understanding.