Nanoparticle synthesis and their integration into polymer-based fibers for biomedical applications

The potential of nanoparticles as effective drug delivery systems combined with the versatility of fibers has led to the development of new and improved strategies to help in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Nanoparticles have extraordinary characteristics that are helpful in several applications, including wound dressings, microbial balance approaches, tissue regeneration, and cancer treatment. Owing to their large surface area, tailor-ability, and persistent diameter, fibers are also used for wound dressings, tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery, and protective clothing. The combination of nanoparticles with fibers has the power to generate delivery systems that have enhanced performance over the individual architectures. This review aims at illustrating the main possibilities and trends of fibers functionalized with nanoparticles, focusing on inorganic and organic nanoparticles and polymer-based fibers. Emphasis on the recent progress in the fabrication procedures of several types of nanoparticles and in the description of the most used polymers to produce fibers has been undertaken, along with the bioactivity of such alliances in several biomedical applications. To finish, future perspectives of nanoparticles incorporated within polymer-based fibers for clinical use are presented and discussed, thus showcasing relevant paths to follow for enhanced success in the field. This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) via grants UIDP/00264/2020 of 2C2T Strategic Project 2020–2023 and project PTDC/CTMTEX/28074/2017. This project has been funded by a Research Grant (2022) from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) to J.C.A., J.M.D. and C.S.M. also acknowledge FCT for PhD grants 2020.07387.BD and 2020.08547.BD, respectively, and H.P.F. for auxiliary researcher contract 2021.02720.CEECIND.