A novel core-shell nanofiber drug delivery system intended for the synergistic treatment of melanoma

Recent progress in topical and transdermal approaches for melanoma treatment

The global incidence of melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, continues to escalate, emphasizing the urgent need for more effective therapeutic strategies. This review assesses the latest advancements in topical and transdermal drug delivery systems, positioning them as promising alternatives. These systems allow for the direct application of therapeutic agents to tumor sites, enhancing drug effectiveness, improving patient compliance, and reducing systemic toxicity. Specifically, innovations such as nanoparticles, microneedles, and vesicular systems are explored for their potential to optimize topical and localized drug delivery. By incorporating a graphical overview of these drug delivery vehicles, we visually underscore their roles in enhancing therapeutic outcomes across various treatment categories such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, phototherapy, phytotherapy, and targeted therapy. This article critically evaluates recent breakthroughs, addresses the current challenges faced by researchers, and explores the future directions of topical and transdermal approaches in melanoma management. By presenting a summary of the latest research and predicting future trends, this review aims to inform ongoing developments and encourage further innovation in strategies for treating melanoma.

Docetaxel-Loaded Electrospun Nanofibrous Mats for Local Chemotherapy Targeting Positive Surgical Margins in Prostate Cancer

Positive surgical margins following radical prostatectomy significantly contribute to tumor recurrence. While systemic chemotherapy demonstrates limited efficacy in this context, local chemotherapy drug delivery systems based on nanomaterials offer promising strategies to address this issue by modifying drug release kinetics and distribution, thereby enhancing antitumor effects while minimizing the toxicities associated with systemic chemotherapy. In this study, we utilized electrospun nanofibrous mats loaded with docetaxel for sustained drug delivery. In vitro experiments demonstrated that these implantable drug-loaded nanofibrous mats effectively inhibited prostate cancer cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest, and promoted apoptosis. In animal models, these drug-loaded nanofibrous mats exhibited prominent therapeutic effects on positive surgical margins postoperatively. Importantly, docetaxel-loaded nanofibrous mats modulated the tumor immune microenvironment by suppressing M2-like macrophages, increasing the ratio between M1- and M2-like macrophages, and enhancing CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Local administration significantly reduced systemic toxicity compared to systemic chemotherapy. In summary, we developed an implantable electrospun drug-loaded nanofibrous mat for localized docetaxel delivery, which offers a prospective strategy for managing positive surgical margins after surgery.

Enhancement of 5-Fluorouracil Drug Delivery in a Graphene Oxide Containing Electrospun Chitosan/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Construct

Electrospun nanofibrous mats, consisting of chitosan (CS) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), were constructed with the addition of graphene oxide (GO) for enhancement of delivery of the 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) chemotherapy drug. Upon studying the range of GO concentrations in CS/PVP, the concentration of 0.2% w/v GO was chosen for inclusion in the drug delivery model. SEM showed bead-free, homogenous fibres within this construct. This construct also proved to be non-toxic to CaCo-2 cells over 24 and 48 h exposure. The construction of a drug delivery vehicle whereby 5-Fu was loaded with and without GO in various concentrations showed several interesting findings. The presence of CS/PVP was revealed through XPS, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. FTIR was also imperative for the analysis of 5-Fu while Raman exclusively highlighted the presence of GO in the samples. In particular, a detailed analysis of the IR spectra recorded using two FTIR spectrometers, several options for determining the concentration of 5-Fu in composite fibre systems CS/PVP/5-Fu and GO/CS/PVP/5-Fu were demonstrated. By analysis of Raman spectra in the region of D and G bands, a linear dependence of ratios of integrated intensities of AD and AG on the intensity of host polymer band at 1425 cm-1 vs. GO content was found. Both methods, therefore, can be used for monitoring of GO content and 5-Fu release in studied complex systems. After incorporating the chemotherapy drug 5-Fu into the constructs, cell viability studies were also performed. This study demonstrated that GO/CS/PVP/5-Fu constructs have potential in chemotherapy drug delivery systems.

Advances in Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Dermatological Applications: A Review

In recent years, a wide variety of high-performance and versatile nanofiber membranes have been successfully created using different electrospinning methods. As vehicles for medication, they have been receiving more attention because of their exceptional antibacterial characteristics and ability to heal wounds, resulting in improved drug delivery and release. This quality makes them an appealing choice for treating various skin conditions like wounds, fungal infections, skin discoloration disorders, dermatitis, and skin cancer. This article offers comprehensive information on the electrospinning procedure, the categorization of nanofiber membranes, and their use in dermatology. Additionally, it delves into successful case studies, showcasing the utilization of nanofiber membranes in the field of skin diseases to promote their substantial advancement.

Cancer Treatment Using Nanofibers: A Review

Currently, the number of patients with cancer is expanding consistently because of a low quality of life. For this reason, the therapies used to treat cancer have received a lot of consideration from specialists. Numerous anticancer medications have been utilized to treat patients with cancer. However, the immediate utilization of anticancer medicines leads to unpleasant side effects for patients and there are many restrictions to applying these treatments. A number of polymers like cellulose, chitosan, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), peptides and Poly (hydroxy alkanoate) have good properties for the treatment of cancer, but the nanofibers-based target and controlled drug delivery system produced by the co-axial electrospinning technique have extraordinary properties like favorable mechanical characteristics, an excellent release profile, a high surface area, and a high sponginess and are harmless, bio-renewable, biofriendly, highly degradable, and can be produced very conveniently on an industrial scale. Thus, nanofibers produced through coaxial electrospinning can be designed to target specific cancer cells or tissues. By modifying the composition and properties of the nanofibers, researchers can control the release kinetics of the therapeutic agent and enhance its accumulation at the tumor site while minimizing systemic toxicity. The core-shell structure of coaxial electrospun nanofibers allows for a controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents over time. This controlled release profile can improve the efficacy of cancer treatment by maintaining therapeutic drug concentrations within the tumor microenvironment for an extended period.

Nanofibers Embedded with Nanoparticles as Carriers for the Controlled Release of Anticancer Drug: Promoting the Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cell Line and Growth Inhibition of Microbial Strains

The polymeric nanofiber mats were produced from polylactic acid, methylcellulose, and polyethylene glycol with 5-fluorouracil (5Fu) drug and iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. Spectral and crystallographic studies clearly elucidated the ionic interactions, structure and nature of the mats. Fe3O4 nanoparticles <10 nm in size, along with methyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol, have significantly reduced the size of nanofiber mats. The mechanical properties for the mats was found to be challenging; however, surface wettability, swelling capacity, and drug encapsulation efficiency results were promising. A controlled drug release pattern was observed from in vitro drug release study, zero-order kinetics, and a Higuchi model. Nanofiber mats showed higher anticancer activity (78%) against MDA-MB 231 cancer cells, which reveals that a small amount of 5Fu drug (15.86%) with high levels of O2••, H2O2, and OH• radicals generated from Fe3O4 have catalyzed the Fenton's reaction to eradicate the cancer cells, in a shorter span of 24 h, itself. In addition, the apoptosis assay by dual AO/PI staining method clearly exhibited the apoptotic cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy. Incorporation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles enhanced the anticancer activity of the mats, compared to the commercially available standard 5Fu drug. Nanofiber mats significantly controlled the growth of selected pathogenic microbial strains by the action of the 5Fu drug and Fe3+ ions. The degradation of mats was investigated by an in vitro mass loss study for a period of 360 days. In a nutshell, promising nanofiber mats were produced as targeted drug delivery devices for chemotherapy.

Nanotechnology as a Promising Method in the Treatment of Skin Cancer

The incidence of skin cancer continues to grow. There are an estimated 1.5 million new cases each year, of which nearly 350,000 are melanoma, which is often fatal. Treatment is challenging and often ineffective, with conventional chemotherapy playing a limited role in this context. These disadvantages can be overcome by the use of nanoparticles and may allow for the early detection and monitoring of neoplastic changes and determining the effectiveness of treatment. This article briefly reviews the present understanding of the characteristics of skin cancers, their epidemiology, and risk factors. It also outlines the possibilities of using nanotechnology, especially nanoparticles, for the transport of medicinal substances. Research over the previous decade on carriers of active substances indicates that drugs can be delivered more accurately to the tumor site, resulting in higher therapeutic efficacy. The article describes the application of liposomes, carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and polymer nanoparticles in existing therapies. It discusses the challenges encountered in nanoparticle therapy and the possibilities of improving their performance. Undoubtedly, the use of nanoparticles is a promising method that can help in the fight against skin cancer.

Development of 5-fluorouracil/etoposide co-loaded electrospun nanofibrous scaffold for localized anti-melanoma therapy

Nanofibrous scaffolds have emerged as promising candidates for localized drug delivery systems in the treatment of cutaneous cancers. In this study, we prepared an electrospun nanofibrous scaffold incorporating 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and etoposide (ETP) for chemotherapy targeting melanoma cutaneous cancer. The scaffold was composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS), prepared via the electrospinning process and loaded with the chemotherapeutic agents. We conducted relevant physicochemical characterizations, assessed cytotoxicity, and evaluated apoptosis against melanoma A375 cells. The prepared 5-FU/ETP co-loaded PVA/CS scaffold exhibited nanofibers (NFs) with an average diameter of 321 ± 61 nm, defect-free and homogenous morphology. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed successful incorporation of chemotherapeutics into the scaffold. Additionally, the scaffold demonstrated a hydrophilic surface, proper mechanical strength, high porosity, and efficient liquid absorption capacity. Notably, sustained and controlled drug release was observed from the nanofibrous scaffold. Furthermore, the scaffold significantly increased cytotoxicity (95%) and apoptosis (74%) in A375 melanoma cells. Consequently, the prepared 5-FU/ETP co-loaded PVA/CS nanofibrous scaffold holds promise as a valuable system for localized eradication of cutaneous melanoma tumors and mitigation of adverse drug reactions associated with chemotherapy.

Advances in Chitosan-based Drug Delivery Systems in Melanoma: A Narrative Review

Melanoma accounts for the minority of skin cancer cases. However, it has the highest mortality rate among the subtypes of skin cancer. At the early stages of the disease, patients show a good prognosis after the surgery, but developing metastases leads to a remarkable drop in patients' 5-year survival rate. Despite the advances made in the therapeutic approaches to this disease, melanoma treatment is still facing several obstacles. Systemic toxicity, water insolubility, instability, lack of proper biodistribution, inadequate cellular penetration, and rapid clearance are some of the challenges that should be addressed in the field of melanoma treatment. While various delivery systems have been developed to circumvent these challenges, chitosan-based delivery platforms have indicated significant success. Chitosan that is produced by the deacetylation of chitin can be formulated into different materials (e.g., nanoparticle, film, and hydrogel) due to its characteristics. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that chitosan-based materials can be used in drug delivery systems while offering a solution for the common problems in this area, such as enhancing biodistribution and skin penetration as well as the sustained release of the drugs. Herein, we reviewed the studies concerning the role of chitosan as a drug delivery system in melanoma and discussed how these drug systems are used for delivering chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., doxorubicin and paclitaxel), genes (e.g., TRAIL), and RNAs (e.g., miRNA199a and STAT3 siRNA) successfully. Furthermore, we take a look into the role of chitosan-based nanoparticles in neutron capture therapy.

Electrospun fibers for the treatment of skin diseases

Skin diseases are among the most common diseases in the global population and with the growth of the aging population, they represent an increasing burden to healthcare systems worldwide. Even though they are rarely life-threatening, the suffering for those affected is high due to the visibility and physical discomfort related to these diseases. Typical symptoms of skin diseases include an inflamed, swollen or itchy skin, and therefore, there is a high demand for effective therapy options. In recent years, electrospinning has attracted considerable interest in the field of drug delivery. The technique allows producing multifunctional drug-loaded fibrous patches from various natural and synthetic polymers with fiber diameters in the nano- and micrometer range, suitable for the treatment of a wide variety of skin diseases. The great potential of electrospun fiber patches not only lies in their tunable drug release properties and the possibility to entrap a variety of therapeutic compounds, but they also provide physical and mechanical protection to the impaired skin area, exhibit a high surface area, allow gas exchange, absorb exudate due to their porous structure and are cytocompatible and biodegradable. In the case of wound healing, cell adhesion is promoted due to the resemblance of the electrospun fibers to the structure of the native extracellular matrix. This review gives an overview of the potential applications of electrospun fibers in skin therapy. In addition to the treatment of bacterial, diabetic and burn wounds, focus is placed on inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, and therapeutic options for the treatment of skin cancer, acne vulgaris and herpes labialis are discussed. While we aim to emphasize the great potential of electrospun fiber patches for the treatment of skin diseases with this review paper, we also highlight challenges and limitations of current research in the field.

Electrosprayed Core (Cellulose Acetate)-Shell (Polyvinylpyrrolidone) Nanoparticles for Smart Acetaminophen Delivery

Smart drug delivery, through which the drug molecules are delivered according to the requests of human biological rhythms or by maximizing drug therapeutic effects, is highly desired in pharmaceutics. Many biomacromolecules have been exploited for this application in the past few decades, both in industry and laboratories. Biphasic release, with an intentional pulsatile release and a following extended release stage, represents a typical smart drug delivery approach, which aims to provide fast therapeutic action and a long time period of effective blood drug concentration to the patients. In this study, based on the use of a well-known biomacromolecule, i.e., cellulose acetate (CA), as the drug (acetaminophen, ATP)-based sustained release carrier, a modified coaxial electrospraying process was developed to fabricate a new kind of core-shell nanoparticle. The nanoparticles were able to furnish a pulsatile release of ATP due to the shell polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The time cost for a release of 30% was 0.32 h, whereas the core-shell particles were able to provide a 30.84-h sustained release of the 90% loaded ATP. The scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope results verified in terms of their round surface morphologies and the obvious core-shell double-chamber structures. ATP presented in both the core and shell sections in an amorphous state owing to its fine compatibility with CA and PVP. The controlled release mechanisms of ATP were suggested. The disclosed biomacromolecule-based process-structure-performance relationship can shed light on how to develop new sorts of advanced nano drug delivery systems.

Electrosprayed Stearic-Acid-Coated Ethylcellulose Microparticles for an Improved Sustained Release of Anticancer Drug

Sustained release is highly desired for "efficacious, safe and convenient" drug delivery, particularly for those anticancer drug molecules with toxicity. In this study, a modified coaxial electrospraying process was developed to coat a hydrophobic lipid, i.e., stearic acid (SA), on composites composed of the anticancer drug tamoxifen citrate (TC) and insoluble polymeric matrix ethylcellulose (EC). Compared with the electrosprayed TC-EC composite microparticles M1, the electrosprayed SA-coated hybrid microparticles M2 were able to provide an improved TC sustained-release profile. The 30% and 90% loaded drug sustained-release time periods were extended to 3.21 h and 19.43 h for M2, respectively, which were significantly longer than those provided by M1 (0.88 h and 9.98 h, respectively). The morphology, inner structure, physical state, and compatibility of the components of the particles M1 and M2 were disclosed through SEM, TEM, XRD, and FTIR. Based on the analyses, the drug sustained-release mechanism of multiple factors co-acting for microparticles M2 is suggested, which include the reasonable selections and organizations of lipid and polymeric excipient, the blank SA shell drug loading, the regularly round shape, and also the high density. The reported protocols pioneered a brand-new manner for developing sustained drug delivery hybrids through a combination of insoluble cellulose gels and lipid using modified coaxial electrospraying.

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

Nanotechnology has yielded nanostructure-based drug delivery approaches, among which nanofibers have been explored and researched for the potential topical delivery of therapeutics. Nanofibers are filaments or thread-like structures in the nanometer size range that are fabricated using various polymers, 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 four major processing techniques, phase separation, self-assembly, template synthesis, and electrospinning, are most commonly used for the fabrication of nanofibers. Nanofibers have a unique structure that needs a multimethod approach to study their morphology and characterization parameters. They are gaining attention as drug delivery carriers, and the substantially vast surface area of the skin makes it a potentially promising strategy for 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 remains challenging, as the widely used electrospinning processes have certain limitations, such as poor yield, use of high voltage, and difficulty in achieving in situ nanofiber deposition on various substrates. This review highlights the insights into fabrication strategies, applications, recent clinical trials, and patents of nanofibers for different skin disorders in detail. Additionally, it discusses case studies of its effective utilization in the treatment of various skin disorders for a better understanding for readers.

Engineering of clarithromycin loaded stimulus responsive dissolving microneedle patches for the treatment of biofilms

This study aimed to fabricate clarithromycin laden Eudragit S-100-based microfibers (MF), microfibers coated film (MB), clarithromycin loaded polyvinyl pyrollidone, hyaluronic acid and sorbitol-based dissolving microneedle patches (CP) and microfibers coated microneedle patches (MP). Morphological and phase analysis of formulations were carried out by scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, respectively. Substrate liquefaction test, in vitro drug release, antimicrobial assay and in vivo antibiofilm studies were performed. MF exhibited a uniform surface and interconnected network. Morphological analysis of CP revealed sharp-tipped and uniform-surfaced microstructures. Clarithromycin was incorporated within MF and CP as amorphous solid. Liquefaction test indicated hyaluronate lyase enzyme responsiveness of hyaluronic acid. Fibers-based formulations (MF, MB and MP) provided an alkaline pH (7.4) responsive drug release; ∼79 %, ∼78 % and ∼81 %, respectively within 2 hours. CP showed a drug release of ∼82 % within 2 hours. MP showed ∼13 % larger inhibitory zone against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as compared to MB and CP. A relatively rapid eradication of S. aureus in infected wounds and subsequent skin regeneration was observed following MP application as compared to MB and CP indicating its usefulness for the management of microbial biofilms.

Extraction and characterization of chitosan from Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker and its application in the preparation of electrospinning nanofiber membranes

Due to its capabilities for wound healing, antimicrobial defense, hemostasis, and biodegradation, chitosan has seen increased use in biomedical disciplines in recent years. In the meantime, efforts have been made to develop and use insect chitosan as a source to address the seasonal, irritating, and regional shortcomings of traditional shrimp and crab chitosan. In this study, a new type of insect chitosan (DCS) was first extracted from Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker by a low-temperature intermittent method and was compared with commercially available pharmaceutical chitosan (CS). Firstly, the degree of deacetylation and molecular weight of DCS were determined, and DCS was characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, XRD, and TGA-DTG. On this basis, DCS was mixed with PVA and PEO to create a novel electrospun nanofiber membrane. The air permeability, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility of the nanofiber membrane were evaluated, as well as the membrane's shape, structure, and mechanical characteristics. Finally, the activity of nanofiber membranes in promoting wound healing was verified with a rat full-thickness skin defect model, hoping to provide a reference for the development of new drug delivery carriers and wound dressings.

Combination effect of cold atmospheric plasma with green synthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticles in the treatment of melanoma cancer model

Green synthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) have high potential in cancer therapy. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is also an emerging biomedical technique that has great potential to cure cancer. Therefore, the combined effect of CAP and nZVI might be promising in treatment of cancer. In this study, we evaluated the combined effect of CAP and nZVI on the metabolic activity of the surviving cells and induction of apoptosis in malignant melanoma in comparison with normal cells. Therefore, the effect of various time exposure of CAP radiation, different doses of nZVI, and the combined effect of CAP and nZVI were evaluated on the viability of malignant melanoma cells (B16-F10) and normal fibroblast cells (L929) at 24 h after treatment using MTT assay. Then, the effect of appropriate doses of each treatment on apoptosis was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry with Annexin/PI staining. In addition, the expression of BAX, BCL2 and Caspase 3 (CASP3) was also assayed. The results showed although the combined effect of CAP and nZVI significantly showed cytotoxic effects and apoptotic activity on cancer cells, this treatment had no more effective compared to CAP or nZVI alone. In addition, evaluation of gene expression showed that combination therapy didn't improve expression of apoptotic genes in comparison with CAP or nZVI. In conclusion, combined treatment of CAP and nZVI does not seem to be able to improve the effect of monotherapy of CAP or nZVI. It may be due to the resistance of cancer cells to high ROS uptake or the accumulation of saturated ROS in cells, which prevents the intensification of apoptosis.

Sirolimus-exuding core-shell nanofibers as an implantable carrier for breast cancer therapy: preparation, characterization, in vitro cell studies, and in vivo anti-tumor activity

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer accounts for significant mortality worldwide. Here, we develop a localized, sustained-release delivery system for breast cancer therapy.

METHODS

Sirolimus (SIR) core-shell nanofibers (NFs) are fabricated by coaxial electrospinning with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) for the core and chitosan and PCL for the shell. The NFs were characterized by SEM, AFM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, water uptake, water contact angle, mechanical properties, drug content, and in vitro release. In vitro and in vivo anticancer effects were investigated.

RESULTS

A sustained release behavior is observed during 480 h that is more extended compared to monoaxial NFs. In vitro cytotoxicity and Annexin V/propidium iodide assays indicate that SIR-loaded coaxial NFs are effective in inhibiting proliferation of 4T1 and MCF-7 cells. Implantation of SIR NFs in 4T1 breast tumor-bearing mice inhibits tumor growth significantly compared to free drug. Histopathological examination shows that suppression of tumor growth by SIR NFs is associated with apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, anti-cancer effects are also confirmed by decreased expression levels of Ki-67, MMP-2, and MMP-9. Histological observation of organs, serological analyses, and the lack of body weight changes indicate in vivo safety of SIR NFs.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, we show here that incorporation of SIR into core-shell NFs could act as an effective drug release depot and induce a sustained antitumor response.

Advanced functional nanofibers: strategies to improve performance and expand functions

Nanofibers have a wide range of applications in many fields such as energy generation and storage, environmental sensing and treatment, biomedical and health, thanks to their large specific surface area, excellent flexibility, and superior mechanical properties. With the expansion of application fields and the upgrade of application requirements, there is an inevitable trend of improving the performance and functions of nanofibers. Over the past few decades, numerous studies have demonstrated how nanofibers can be adapted to more complex needs through modifications of their structures, materials, and assembly. Thus, it is necessary to systematically review the field of nanofibers in which new ideas and technologies are emerging. Here we summarize the recent advanced strategies to improve the performances and expand the functions of nanofibers. We first introduce the common methods of preparing nanofibers, then summarize the advances in the field of nanofibers, especially up-to-date strategies for further enhancing their functionalities. We classify these strategies into three categories: design of nanofiber structures, tuning of nanofiber materials, and improvement of nanofibers assemblies. Finally, the optimization methods, materials, application areas, and fabrication methods are summarized, and existing challenges and future research directions are discussed. We hope this review can provide useful guidance for subsequent related work.

Graphical abstract

Graphene Incorporated Electrospun Nanofiber for Electrochemical Sensing and Biomedical Applications: A Critical Review

The extraordinary material graphene arrived in the fields of engineering and science to instigate a material revolution in 2004. Graphene has promptly risen as the super star due to its outstanding properties. Graphene is an allotrope of carbon and is made up of sp²-bonded carbon atoms placed in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice. Graphite consists of stacked layers of graphene. Due to the distinctive structural features as well as excellent physico-chemical and electrical conductivity, graphene allows remarkable improvement in the performance of electrospun nanofibers (NFs), which results in the enhancement of promising applications in NF-based sensor and biomedical technologies. Electrospinning is an easy, economical, and versatile technology depending on electrostatic repulsion between the surface charges to generate fibers from the extensive list of polymeric and ceramic materials with diameters down to a few nanometers. NFs have emerged as important and attractive platform with outstanding properties for biosensing and biomedical applications, because of their excellent functional features, that include high porosity, high surface area to volume ratio, high catalytic and charge transfer, much better electrical conductivity, controllable nanofiber mat configuration, biocompatibility, and bioresorbability. The inclusion of graphene nanomaterials (GNMs) into NFs is highly desirable. Pre-processing techniques and post-processing techniques to incorporate GNMs into electrospun polymer NFs are precisely discussed. The accomplishment and the utilization of NFs containing GNMs in the electrochemical biosensing pathway for the detection of a broad range biological analytes are discussed. Graphene oxide (GO) has great importance and potential in the biomedical field and can imitate the composition of the extracellular matrix. The oxygen-rich GO is hydrophilic in nature and easily disperses in water, and assists in cell growth, drug delivery, and antimicrobial properties of electrospun nanofiber matrices. NFs containing GO for tissue engineering, drug and gene delivery, wound healing applications, and medical equipment are discussed. NFs containing GO have importance in biomedical applications, which include engineered cardiac patches, instrument coatings, and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for motion sensing applications. This review deals with graphene-based nanomaterials (GNMs) such as GO incorporated electrospun polymeric NFs for biosensing and biomedical applications, that can bridge the gap between the laboratory facility and industry.

A Study on the Effect of Nanoscale MgO and Hydrogen Bonding in Nanofiber Mats for the Controlled Drug Release along with In Vitro Breast Cancer Cell Line and Antimicrobial Studies

Nanosized metal oxide-incorporated drug carriers have received significant attention due to their biocompatibility, mechanical strength, controlled drug release, and biodegradability. Herein, an attempt was made to fabricate polycaprolactone-based electrospun nanofiber mats involving the 5-fluorouracil (5Fu) drug, MgO nanoparticle, methyl cellulose, and polyethylene glycol. The chemical interactions, surface wettability, mechanical properties, structural and morphological changes, and thermal stability were studied by the respective analyses. The ionic interaction between 5Fu, MgO, and polymers were found to be responsible for the controlled drug release. Zero-order kinetic and model data also revealed that a controlled drug release pattern was observed in a period of 16 days. Furthermore, the nanofiber mats were subjected to cytotoxicity studies against MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line and the results showed higher cytotoxicity in a short time of 24 h and less toxicity to normal L929 fibroblast cell line. The apoptosis in cancer cell lines was also tested by AO/PI staining assay and confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. In addition, the growth inhibition of several bacterial and fungal strains was tested for the mats and the results exhibited good inhibition activity. Hence, the reported nanofiber drug carrier was found to be an efficient implant for the controlled release of anticancer drug along with other significant properties.

PVA/κ-carrageenan/Au/camptothecin/pegylated-polyurethane/paclitaxel nanofibers against lung cancer treatment

Gold nanoparticles, paclitaxel (PTX), and camptothecin (CMPT) were loaded into the PVA/κ-carrageenan/pegylated-PU composite and core–shell nanofibers prepared by two-nozzle and coaxial electrospinning methods. The capability of composite and core–shell nanofibers was investigated for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs in lung cancer treatment. In vitro and in vivo release of PTX and CMPT were investigated to find the release mechanism from nanofibers compared to direct administration of pristine PTX and CMPT. The mean fiber diameter for composite and core–shell nanofibers with shell feeding rates of 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mL h⁻¹ was about 225, 330, 520, and 640 nm, respectively. In vivo release studies indicated that the blood concentration of CMPT and PTX for rats fed with core–shell nanofibers reached the highest values of 26.8 ± 0.04 μg mL⁻¹, and 26.5 ± 0.05 μg mL⁻¹ in 36 h, and 24 h and reduced slowly within 84 h, and 48 h, respectively. The maximum cytotoxicity was 75% in the presence PVA/κ-carrageenan/CMPT/Au/pegylated-PU/PTX core–shell nanofibers. In vivo antitumor activity results confirmed the synergic effect of Au, CMPT and PTX anticancer drugs on the reduction of tumor volume without change in mouse weight by the PVA/κ-carrageenan/CMPT/Au/pegylated PU/PTX core–shell nanofibers. The obtained results indicated that the simultaneous loading of CMPT and PTX anticancer drugs and Au nanoparticles is more beneficial for lung cancer treatment.

Core–shell nanofibers and in vivo release from core–shell nanofibers against lung cancer.

Marine Biopolymers as Bioactive Functional Ingredients of Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications

Marine biopolymers, abundantly present in seaweeds and marine animals, feature diverse structures and functionalities, and possess a wide range of beneficial biological activities. Characterized by high biocompatibility and biodegradability, as well as unique physicochemical properties, marine biopolymers are attracting a constantly increasing interest for the development of advanced systems for applications in the biomedical field. The development of electrospinning offers an innovative technological platform for the production of nonwoven nanofibrous scaffolds with increased surface area, high encapsulation efficacy, intrinsic interconnectivity, and structural analogy to the natural extracellular matrix. Marine biopolymer-based electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds with multifunctional characteristics and tunable mechanical properties now attract significant attention for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wound healing. The present review, covering the literature up to the end of 2021, highlights the advancements in the development of marine biopolymer-based electrospun nanofibers for their utilization as cell proliferation scaffolds, bioadhesives, release modifiers, and wound dressings.

Drug Delivery Applications of Coaxial Electrospun Nanofibres in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is one of the most serious health problems and the second leading cause of death worldwide, and with an ageing and growing population, problems related to cancer will continue. In the battle against cancer, many therapies and anticancer drugs have been developed. Chemotherapy and relevant drugs are widely used in clinical practice; however, their applications are always accompanied by severe side effects. In recent years, the drug delivery system has been improved by nanotechnology to reduce the adverse effects of the delivered drugs. Among the different candidates, core-sheath nanofibres prepared by coaxial electrospinning are outstanding due to their unique properties, including their large surface area, high encapsulation efficiency, good mechanical property, multidrug loading capacity, and ability to govern drug release kinetics. Therefore, encapsulating drugs in coaxial electrospun nanofibres is a desirable method for controlled and sustained drug release. This review summarises the drug delivery applications of coaxial electrospun nanofibres with different structures and drugs for various cancer treatments.

Drug Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy: The Potentiality and Versatility of Electrospun Nanofibers

Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising approach for the treatment of a broad range of diseases, including oncological and infectious diseases. This minimally invasive and localized therapy is based on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) able to destroy cancer cells and inactivate pathogens by combining the use of photosensitizers (PSs), light and molecular oxygen. To overcome the drawbacks of drug systemic administration, drug delivery systems (DDS) can be used to carrier the PSs, allowing higher therapeutic efficacy and minimal toxicological effects. Polymeric nanofibers produced by electrospinning emerged as powerful platforms for drug delivery applications. Electrospun nanofibers exhibit outstanding characteristics, such as large surface area to volume ratio associated with high drug loading, high porosity, flexibility, ability to incorporate and release a wide variety of therapeutic agents, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Due to the versatility of this technique, fibers with different morphologies and functionalities, including drug release profile can be produced. The possibility of scalability makes electrospinning even more attractive for the development of DDS. This review aims to explore and show an up to date of the huge potential of electrospun nanofibers as DDS for different PDT applications and discuss the opportunities and challenges in this field. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Antitumor Effect of Manool in a Murine Melanoma Model

The manool diterpene, found in abundance in Salvia officinalis L., showed a selective cytotoxic effect against murine melanoma cells. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the antitumor potential of manool in a murine melanoma model, administered by three routes: oral, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal. In addition, the antimelanoma effect of manool (orally) combined with cisplatin (subcutaneous) was evaluated. The results obtained revealed that manool, administered by the three routes, was able to significantly decrease the mass and frequency of mitosis of the tumor tissue. The data obtained revealed that manool, at a dose of 20 mg/kg, was able to significantly decrease the tumor mass when administered by the three routes, with the percentages of reduction being equivalent to 62.4% (oral), 48.5% (intraperitoneal), and 38.8% (subcutaneous), without toxic effects. The treatment of manool plus cisplatin led to 86.7% reduction in tumor mass, higher than that observed in treatment with manool or cisplatin alone (50.7%), although signs of toxicity have been observed. The results also showed that treatments with manool (20 mg/kg orally) and/or cisplatin did not alter the activity of caspase 3 cleaved in tumor tissue. Therefore, manool revealed a promising antimelanoma effect, but without involvement of the caspase 3 cleaved pathway.

Electrospinning: New Strategies for the Treatment of Skin Melanoma

Recent studies have shown a significant growth of skin cancer cases in northern regions of the world, in which its presence was not common. Skin cancer is one of the cancers that mostly affects the world's population, ranking fifth in studies conducted in the United States (USA). Melanoma is cancer that has the highest number of deaths worldwide since it is the most resistant skin cancer to current treatments. This is why alternatives for its treatment has been investigated considering nanomedicine concepts. This study approaches the role of this field in the creation of promising electrospun devices, composed of nanoparticles and nanofibers, among other structures, capable of directing and/or loading active drugs and/or materials with the objective of inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells or even eliminating those cells.

Advanced nanomedicine approaches applied for treatment of skin carcinoma

Skin-cancer is the commonest malignancy affecting huge proportion of the population, reaching heights in terms of morbidity. The treatment strategies are presently focusing on surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, which eventually cause destruction to unaffected cells. To overcome this limitation, wide range of nanoscaled materials have been recognized as potential carriers for delivering selective response to cancerous cells and neoplasms. Nanotechnological approach has been tremendously exploited in several areas, owing to their functional nanometric dimensions. The alarming incidence of skin cancer engenders burdensome effects worldwide, which is further awakening innovational medicinal approaches, accompanying target specific drug delivery tools for coveted benefits to provide reduced toxicity and tackle proliferative episodes of skin cancer. The developed nanosystems for anti-cancer agents include liposomes, ethosomes, nanofibers, solid lipid nanoparticles and metallic nanoparticles, which exhibit pronounced outcomes for skin carcinoma. In this review, skin cancer with its sub-types is explained in nutshell, followed by compendium of specific nanotechnological tools presented, in addition to therapeutic applications of drug-loaded nano systems for skin cancer.

Recent applications of electrical, centrifugal, and pressurised emerging technologies for fibrous structure engineering in drug delivery, regenerative medicine and theranostics

Advancements in technology and material development in recent years has led to significant breakthroughs in the remit of fiber engineering. Conventional methods such as wet spinning, melt spinning, phase separation and template synthesis have been reported to develop fibrous structures for an array of applications. However, these methods have limitations with respect to processing conditions (e.g. high processing temperatures, shear stresses) and production (e.g. non-continuous fibers). The materials that can be processed using these methods are also limited, deterring their use in practical applications. Producing fibrous structures on a nanometer scale, in sync with the advancements in nanotechnology is another challenge met by these conventional methods. In this review we aim to present a brief overview of conventional methods of fiber fabrication and focus on the emerging fiber engineering techniques namely electrospinning, centrifugal spinning and pressurised gyration. This review will discuss the fundamental principles and factors governing each fabrication method and converge on the applications of the resulting spun fibers; specifically, in the drug delivery remit and in regenerative medicine.

Fabrication of amphotericin B-loaded electrospun core-shell nanofibers as a novel dressing for superficial mycoses and cutaneous leishmaniasis

Amphotericin B (AmB) is an antifungal and antiparasitic agent that is the main drug used for the treatment of mycoses infections and leishmaniasis. However, its high toxicity and side effects are the main difficulties attributed to its application. In this study, to minimize its harmful effects, AmB-loaded core-shell nanofibers were fabricated, using polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, and AmB as the core, and polyethylene oxide and gelatin as the shell-forming components. The nanofibers were characterized, using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile test, drug release, and MTT assay. The results showed that the prepared nanofibers were smooth and had a core-shell structure with almost no cytotoxicity against fibroblast cells and the release study suggested that the core-shell structure decreased the burst release. The disk diffusion assay revealed that the nanofibrous mats at different AmB concentrations exhibited significant activity against all the eight evaluated fungal species with the inhibition zones of 1.4-2.6 cm. The flow cytometry assay also showed that the prepared nanofibrous mat significantly killed Leishmania major promastigotes up to 84%. The obtained results indicated that this AmB-loaded nanofibrous system could be a suitable candidate for a topical drug delivery system for the treatment of both superficial mycoses and cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Rationally design of electrospun polysaccharides polymeric nanofiber webs by various tools for biomedical applications: A review

Nanofibers have a particular benefit when delivering a spectrum of therapeutic drugs for diverse biomedical applications. Nanofibers are easily fabricated from cellulose acetate, chitosan, polycaprolactone, and other polymers with regulated morphology and release profiles due to nanotechnology's recent advancement. This review will provide the latest approaches to the fabrication of electrospun nanofibers containing herbal extracts, antimicrobial peptides, and antibiotics for wound-healing potential. Besides, synthesis and evaluation of nanofibrous mats, including conducting polymer and evaluate their possibility for wound healing. In addition, nanofibers are loaded with some drugs for skin cancer treatment and contain growth factors for tissue regeneration. Also, the current two-dimensional nanofibers limitations and the various techniques for convert two-dimensional to three-dimension nanofibers to avoid these drawbacks. Moreover, the future direction in improving the three-dimensional structure and functionality has been including.

A review on the applications of electrospun chitosan nanofibers for the cancer treatment

In recent years, the incidence of cancer is increasing every day due to poor quality of life (industrialization of life). Therefore, the treatment of cancer has received much attention from therapists. So far, many anticancer drugs have been used to treat cancer patents. However, the direct use of the anticancer drugs has the adverse side effects for patents and several limitations to treat process. Natural chitosan nanofibers prepared by electrospinning method have unique properties such as high surface area, high porosity, suitable mechanical properties, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, biorenewable, low immunogenicity, better clinical functionality, analogue to extracellular model, and easy production in large scale. Therefore, this bio-polymer is a very suitable case to deliver of the anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer patents. In this review summarizes the electrospinning synthesis of chitosan and its therapeutic application for the various cancer treatment.

Biomedical Applications of Electrospun Graphene Oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) has broad potential in the biomedical sector. The oxygen-abundant nature of GO means the material is hydrophilic and readily dispersible in water. GO has also been known to improve cell proliferation, drug loading, and antimicrobial properties of composites. Electrospun composites likewise have great potential for biomedical applications because they are generally biocompatible and bioresorbable, possess low immune rejection risk, and can mimic the structure of the extracellular matrix. In the current review, GO-containing electrospun composites for tissue engineering applications are described in detail. In addition, electrospun GO-containing materials for their use in drug and gene delivery, wound healing, and biomaterials/medical devices have been examined. Good biocompatibility and anionic-exchange properties of GO make it an ideal candidate for drug and gene delivery systems. Drug/gene delivery applications for electrospun GO composites are described with a number of examples. Various systems using electrospun GO-containing therapeutics have been compared for their potential uses in cancer therapy. Micro- to nanosized electrospun fibers for wound healing applications and antimicrobial applications are explained in detail. Applications of various GO-containing electrospun composite materials for medical device applications are listed. It is concluded that the electrospun GO materials will find a broad range of biomedical applications such as cardiac patches, medical device coatings, sensors, and triboelectric nanogenerators for motion sensing and biosensing.

Electrospun Fibres of Chitosan/PVP for the Effective Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil

Electrospun nanofibrous mats consisting of chitosan (CS) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were constructed. Tuning of solution and process parameters was performed and resulted in an electrospun system containing a 6:4 ratio of PVP:CS. This is a significant increase in the proportion of spun CS on the previously reported highest ratio PVP:CS blend. SEM analysis showed that the nanofibrous mats with 4 wt% CS/6 wt% PVP (sample E) comprised homogenous, uniform fibres with an average diameter of 0.569 μm. XPS analysis showed that the surface of the samples consisted of PVP. Raman and FTIR analysis revealed intermolecular interactions (via H-bonding) between PVP and CS. In FTIR spectra, the contribution of chitosan to CS/PVP complexes was shown by the downshift of the C=O band and by the linear increase in intensity of C-O stretching in CS. XPS analysis showed a smaller shift at the binding energy 531 eV, which relates to the amide of the acetylated functional groups. The obtained results demonstrate a sensitivity of Raman and FTIR tests to the presence of chitosan in PVP:CS blend. The chemotherapy drug 5-Fu was incorporated into the constructs and cell viability studies were performed. WST-8 viability assay showed that exposure of A549 human alveolar basal epithelial cells to 10 mg/mL 5-Fu loaded fibres was most effective at killing cells over 24 h. On the other hand, the constructs with loading of 1 mg/mL of drug were not efficient at killing A549 human alveolar basal epithelial cells. This study showed that CS/PVP/5-Fu constructs have potential in chemotherapeutic drug delivery systems.

Combination of structure-performance and shape-performance relationships for better biphasic release in electrospun Janus fibers

In nature, the combination of composition, structure, and shape determines the matter's functional performance to a large extent. Inspired by which, two electrospun Janus nanofiber formulations were created using side-by-side electrospinning in this work. Tamoxifen citrate (TAM) was used as a model drug and ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone K60 (PVP) as the polymer carrier matrices. The fibers have linear cylindrical morphologies and distinct Janus structures by scanning electron microscopy. One side of the fibers took a round shape, while the other was crescent-shaped. The drug was present in both polymer matrices in the form of amorphous solid dispersions, owing to strong intermolecular interactions between drug and polymer. In vitro dissolution tests demonstrated that both sets of fibers could provide biphasic drug release due to the difference in solubility of PVP and EC. The different shape of TAM-EC and TAM-PVP side of the Janus structure resulted in a considerable variation in the drug release profiles. The Janus structure with crescent TAM-PVP side and round TAM-EC side gave a more rapid burst release in the first phase of release, and slower sustained release in the second phase. This work thus reports a new strategy for systematically developing advanced functional nanomaterials based on both shape- and structure-performance relationships.

Fabrication and characterisation of self-applicating heparin sodium microneedle patches

The aim of this study was to develop heparin sodium loaded microneedle patches using different compositions of polyvinyl alcohol polymer and sorbitol. A vacuum micromolding technique was used to fabricate microneedle patches while heparin sodium was loaded into needle tips. Physical features of patches were evaluated by measuring thickness, width, folding endurance and swelling percentage. Patches were also characterised by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to determine the microneedle length and surface morphologies. A preliminary assessment of the microneedle performance was studied by examining the in-vitro insertion to the parafilm and recording the in-vitro drug release profile. In-vivo activity of patches was confirmed by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time and histological examination of the micropierced skin tissues. Prepared patches were clear, smooth; uniform in appearance; with sharp pointed microprojections and remained intact after 1000 folding. The microneedles were stiffer in nature, as they reproduce microcavities in the parafilm membrane following hand pushing without any structural loss. Insertion study results showed successful insertion of microneedles into the parafilm. Disrupted stratum corneum evident from histological examination confirmed successful insertion of the microneedle without affecting the vasculature. In-vitro release study confirmed ∼92% release of the loaded drug within 120 min. A significant prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (4 folds as compared to negative control) was recorded following the application of heparin sodium loaded microneedle patch onto rabbit skin. In conclusion microneedles are a valuable drug delivery system, benefiting the patients with minimal skin invasion and also allowing self-administration of heparin sodium in a sustained release manner for the management of chronic ailments.

Production of triterpenoid compounds from Ganoderma lucidum spore powder using ultrasound-assisted extraction

When ingested as a dietary supplement, Ganoderma lucidum spore powders (GLSP) provide various health benefits such as enhanced immunity, liver protection and anti-cancer effects. In this study, triterpenoid extraction from GLSP was achieved using an ultrasound-assisted process which was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was also compared to the most conventional chemical extraction method. For UAE, optimum extraction conditions were found to be ethanol concentration = 95% v/v; solvent to solid ratio = 50:1 mL/g; ultrasound time = 5.4 min; ultrasound power = 564.7 w, and ultrasound probe distance = 8.2 cm. At optimal UAE conditions, no significant differences were found between experimental (0.97 ± 0.04 %) and predicted values (99%); which indicates appreciable correlation at the 97% confidence interval. The findings show the application of Box-Behnken design (BBD) to predict and optimize triterpenoid yield for UAE of triterpenoid from GLSP. Furthermore, glucose consumption was 2.68 times that of control samples when tested with insulin-resistant HepG2 cell, showing potential use in type 2 diabetes. In addition, triterpenoid extracts show good biocompatibility and inhibition of antioxidant activity.