Electrospun Chitosan-Based Nanofibers for Wound Healing: Advances in Fabrication Strategies, Functionalization, and Clinical Translation

Abstract

The management of acute and chronic wounds remains a clinical challenge due to infection, delayed re-epithelialization, and impaired angiogenesis. Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds have gained attention as promising biomaterials, offering high surface area-to-volume ratio, tunable porosity, and ECM-like structure. Chitosan, derived from chitin through deacetylation, is a natural polymer with biodegradability, biocompatibility, mucoadhesiveness, and antimicrobial properties, making it ideal for wound healing. Electrospun chitosan nanofibers support cellular proliferation, modulate inflammation, and promote tissue regeneration. This review examines recent advances in the fabrication and biomedical application of electrospun chitosan-based nanofibers for wound healing. Key electrospinning parameters, such as polymer concentration, molecular weight, solution viscosity, and applied voltage, are discussed. Various electrospinning strategies, including blend, coaxial, emulsion, and multilayer methods, are explored for encapsulating therapeutic agents, controlling drug release, and enhancing scaffold functionality. The review also covers the impact of polymeric blends, crosslinking techniques, and solvent systems on nanofiber morphology and mechanical stability. Applications in skin tissue engineering, antimicrobial barriers, hemostasis, and growth factor delivery are highlighted. In conclusion, electrospun chitosan nanofibers offer a versatile platform for regenerative wound care, with future research focusing on stimuli-responsive, immunomodulatory, and patient-specific systems for clinical translation.