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Handbook of Nanofibers pp 1–28Cite as

Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds: A Versatile Therapeutic Tool for Cancer Management

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Abstract

According to WHO cancer is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide with 8.2 million cancer-related deaths in 2012. Nanotechnology deals with creating a new and targeted platform for cancer therapy and diagnostics. Similar to nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery and diagnostic methods nanofibers are also being used for the same purpose. The advantages of using nanofibers are the high loading capacity, large surface area, porosity, biodegradability, cost effective, delivery of multi-model therapeutics etc. One of the most important methods for the synthesis of nanofibers is electrospinning which is based on the stretching of melt solution by electrostatic forces. Similar to the applications in reconstructive surgery and regenerative medicine, nanofibers can be used in cancer diagnostics and therapy. Researchers are trying to develop biosensors using nanofibers which can amplify the signals, improve sensitivity and accuracy of assays. Isolation and detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) using cell capture based on nanofibers are also under development. Targeted and implantable devices for delivering bioactive components, tissue engineering and magnetic hyperthermia based intelligent nanofiber scaffolds are used in cancer treatment and management. 3D cultures of cancer cells on scaffolds have vital applications in tumor biology as well as anticancer drug screening and development whereas 3D culture and differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) on scaffolds have application in cancer surgery and wound healing.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Nanomedicine, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

    Preethi Gu, S. Maya, B. S. Unnikrishnan & T. T. Sreelekha

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  1. Preethi Gu
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  2. S. Maya
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  3. B. S. Unnikrishnan
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  4. T. T. Sreelekha
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Department of Materials and Chemistry (M Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium

    Ahmed Barhoum

  2. Montpellier, France

    Mikhael Bechelany

  3. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , Edinburg, USA

    Abdel Makhlouf

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Gu, P., Maya, S., Unnikrishnan, B., Sreelekha, T. (2018). Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds: A Versatile Therapeutic Tool for Cancer Management. In: Barhoum, A., Bechelany, M., Makhlouf, A. (eds) Handbook of Nanofibers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42789-8_26-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42789-8_26-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42789-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42789-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Chemistry and Mat. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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