Understanding the science of electrospinning for the fabrication of biofiber scaffolds as advanced wound dressings in excisional wound healing.

Abstract

An excisional wound is characterised as a complete loss of tissue from its site and involves a complex healing process. Conventional wound dressings present significant clinical challenges, including delayed re-epithelialization, an increased risk of infection, and excessive scarring. Electrospun biopolymer/nanofiber scaffolds developed by electrospinning have emerged as a promising class of advanced wound dressings with a unique extracellular matrix (ECM)- mimicking nanofibrous architecture, high porosity, and tunable physicochemical properties. The activity of electrospun nanofibres depends on the design, functionalization, and formulation strategies (technique & process parameters). The incorporation of growth factors, cytokines, drugs, phytochemicals, and antimicrobial agents enables controlled, phase-specific modulation of inflammation, angiogenesis, and tissue remodelling. Preclinical evidence consistently demonstrates that electrospun scaffolds accelerate wound closure, enhance re-epithelialization, promote neovascularization, and improve collagen organisation and mechanical strength. However, no human clinical trials specifically evaluating electrospun bio-/nanofiber scaffolds for excisional wound healing have been reported to date, representing a major translational gap between promising preclinical findings and clinical application. The review critically explains the integration of the electrospinning technique for fabricating bio-/nanofibers as scaffolds for advanced excisional wound dressings, linking process parameters to scaffold architecture and phase-specific tissue repair mechanisms. Despite significant advantages, key challenges like immunocompatibility, manufacturing scalability, regulatory classification, and long-term safety can be resolved by complying with the FDA and EMA wound dressing regulatory frameworks. Emerging trends in smart, bioactive, and stimuli-responsive electrospun scaffolds are highlighted as future directions toward clinically translatable, multifunctional wound care solutions.