A MINI REVIEW OF NANOFIBER SYNTHESIS USING FLOW BLURRING ATOMIZATION

Abstract

This review summarizes the current state of the art for nanofiber synthesis using the flow blurring (FB) technique. The technique, when applied to the viscoelastic fluids, produces fibers with a diameter ranging from micrometers to nanometers, under specific conditions. Nanofibers have displayed tremendous biocompatibility with living cells. They are actively used in the field of biotechnology for drug delivery, tissue engineering, neural electrodes, and smart wound dressings. Considering their expanding uses, it is now essential to synthesize the nanofibers at a high production rate. Currently, the most used production method is single-jet electrospinning, which is slow and fails to achieve industrial scalability. Another popular method, multi-jet electrospinning and non-electro techniques, have shown promise but have inherent limitations that need addressing. The nanofiber synthesis using FB atomization addresses the need for the mass production in a cost-effective manner. The approach is relatively new; hence, the literature on this is in the developing stage. Therefore, the present paper compiles the significant fundamental aspects, general observations, and dependence of fiber characteristics and production rate on the process parameters of FB atomization, thus revealing how the FB technique can work as the state of the art for nanofiber production in the future.