Coaxial electrospinning of nanofibers

In the last decade, the nanomaterials engineering fraternity witnessed the introduction of modified electrospinning in the form of coaxial electrospinning, involving an arrangement of multiple concentric spinnerets meant to co-spin compound nano- and micro-scale fibers. These have since acted as precursors for a number of sophisticated applications, such as fabrication of hollow and porous structures, and encapsulation of biological agents for transport to desired parts of the body. This chapter explores the principles and mechanisms of both the practical and theoretical approaches during coaxial electrospinning, including the latest technologies and the parameters crucial for the quality and quantities yielded. The viability and feasibility of these remarkable nano structures in drug delivery and tissue engineering (cardiac patches, nerve grafts, bone grafts, and skin grafts) are analyzed. Furthermore, an overview of core–sheath fibers, air/water filtration, sensors, and food processing is given, including their benefits and effectiveness compared to the use of conventional electrospun and other mainstream fibers.