Nanofibers produced from medicinal and aromatic plant extracts by electrospinning method

Abstract

Electrospinning (ES) is a fiber fabrication technology that uses electrical force with polymer solutions or polymer melts. ES is a flexible and economical technique for producing continuous nanoand microfiber membranes with tunable structures, properties, and functionalities. Since 2000, there have been significant advances in the field of electrospinning. ES has proven to be the most cost-effective, simple, and reliable method for producing nanofibers. ES is a carrier system that can be used for these purposes and is a suitable platform for the production of new materials. Many research studies have been conducted using both natural and synthetic polymers. In the ES process, bioactive chemicals are incorporated into polymers because of many advantages. Plant extracts are a storehouse of bioactive chemicals with medicinal applications. These medicinal and beneficial properties of plants can be transferred to nanofibers. Nanofibers are a subset of nanostructures. One of the most efficient methods to produce nanofibers is electrospinning. The aim of this review is to present a summary of some recent studies in which crude plant extracts have been loaded with various natural or synthetic polymers for applications.