Electrospun Beads-on-the-String Nanoproducts: Preparation and Drug Delivery Application

The nanoproducts prepared by electrospinning have a large specific surface area, adjustable porosity, and controllable structure. Therefore, electrospinning has attracted an increasing attention in the current drug delivery systems (CDDs). In general cognition, the morphology of electrospinning nanoproducts should be homogeneous and stable to provide reproducible functions. Thus, numerous studies have been conducted to overcome the generation of beads-on-the-string by optimizing experimental conditions. This review introduces a specific electrospun nanoproduct, which is beads-on-the-string nanofibers. The presence of beads in the beads-on-the-string nanofibers can effectively encapsulate the model drug, which reduce the initial burst release of the drug and provide sustained release. At the same time, the beads-on-the-string nanofibers with composite structures can modulate the release properties of model drugs in CDDs. This review mainly summarizes the current research on the preparation of beads-on-the-string nanofibers by electrospinning and the application of beads-on-the-string nanofibers in the field of drug delivery. The future challenges and opportunities of beads-on-the-string nanofibers are also anticipated.