Dejene Bekinew Kitaw
Department of Textile Engineering, Institute of Technology, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Sep;321(Pt 4):146597. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146597. Epub 2025 Aug 6.
The growing demand for sustainable and high-performance textiles has driven significant interest in natural nanofibers as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic materials such as plastics. Among the various fabrication techniques, electrospinning has emerged as a versatile method for producing ultrafine nanofibers from biopolymers such as cellulose, chitin/chitosan, and silk, offering tunable properties for advanced textile applications. Unlike previous reviews that typically focus on a single biopolymer or lack detailed comparisons across systems, this review provides a comprehensive and focused comparative analysis of cellulose, chitin, and silk nanofibers, emphasizing their electrospinnability, processing challenges, functional modifications, and potential applications in advanced textiles. Cellulose nanofibers, derived from plant or bacterial sources, demonstrate exceptional mechanical strength and biocompatibility; however, they require innovative solvent systems for effective electrospinning. Chitin and chitosan, sourced from marine waste, possess inherent antimicrobial and wound-healing properties; nevertheless, their rigid structures necessitate polymer blending or coaxial spinning for improved processability. Silk fibroin, renowned for its toughness and flexibility, is ideal for luxury and biomedical textiles; however, it faces challenges in scalable production. This review also discusses green electrospinning approaches, including solvent optimization and additive incorporation, to enhance fiber performance while minimizing environmental impact. A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties, biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness of these nanofibers, highlighting their significance in the circular economy. Finally, future perspectives on scalability, multifunctional textiles, and regulatory barriers are discussed, providing a roadmap for research and commercialization.
对可持续和高性能纺织品不断增长的需求，引发了人们对天然纳米纤维的浓厚兴趣，天然纳米纤维可作为塑料等合成材料的环保替代品。在各种制造技术中，静电纺丝已成为一种通用方法，可从纤维素、几丁质/壳聚糖和丝绸等生物聚合物中生产超细纳米纤维，为先进的纺织应用提供可调节的性能。与以往通常专注于单一生物聚合物或缺乏跨系统详细比较的综述不同，本综述对纤维素、几丁质和丝绸纳米纤维进行了全面且有重点的比较分析，强调了它们的可静电纺丝性、加工挑战、功能改性以及在先进纺织品中的潜在应用。源自植物或细菌来源的纤维素纳米纤维具有出色的机械强度和生物相容性；然而，它们需要创新的溶剂体系才能实现有效的静电纺丝。源自海洋废弃物的几丁质和壳聚糖具有固有的抗菌和伤口愈合特性；尽管如此，它们的刚性结构需要进行聚合物共混或同轴纺丝以提高加工性能。丝素蛋白以其韧性和柔韧性而闻名，是豪华和生物医学纺织品的理想选择；然而，它在可扩展生产方面面临挑战。本综述还讨论了绿色静电纺丝方法，包括溶剂优化和添加剂加入，以提高纤维性能同时将环境影响降至最低。进行了一项比较分析，以评估这些纳米纤维的机械性能、生物降解性和成本效益，突出它们在循环经济中的重要性。最后，讨论了关于可扩展性、多功能纺织品和监管障碍的未来展望，为研究和商业化提供了路线图。
