Electrospun Nanofibers for Biomedical Applications: Biocompatible Dressings and Bioactive Implant Coatings

Electrospinning enables the fabrication of nanofibrous materials with tailoring architecture, high surface area, and tunable functional properties, making it a key technology in regenerative medicine and biomedical device design. This study presents two advanced biomedical applications of electrospun nanofibers: biocompatible PVA/HA dressings for promoting wound regeneration, and bioactive PLA/nHAp coatings for improving the surface performance of titanium-based implants. In the first approach, aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were electrospun and subsequently crosslinked through thermal treatment using citric acid (CA), a biobased, non-toxic crosslinker. The resulting nanofibrous mats exhibited uniform morphology with fiber diameters below 200 nm, as observed via SEM. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of ester bonds, while DSC analysis indicated thermal stability in physiologically relevant conditions. Swelling and degradation tests performed in PBS at different pH values demonstrated high water resistance and pHresponsive behavior, supporting their suitability as wound dressings with potential for controlled release of bioactive agents. Building on the versatility of electrospun nanofibers, a further application was explored for implant coatings based on polylactic acid (PLA), and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) were directly electrospun onto titanium substrates. The incorporation of nHAp improved fiber uniformity and increased porosity, contributing to a more favorable microstructure for cellular interaction. FTIR analysis confirmed successful nanofiller integration, while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed enhanced corrosion resistance, highlighting the potential of these composite coatings as effective bioactive and protective barriers for metallic implants. These results support the use of electrospun nanofibers as multifunctional materials for both wound healing and implant surface modification.