Table 3 Utility of nanofibers in transdermal delivery of anticancer therapeutic agents

1

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and curcumin

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly caprolactone (PCL)

95.60 (for PCL + curcumin nanofibers)/300 (PVA + gold nanoparticles nanofibers), 600 (for PCL + curcumin nanofibers)

SEM, FT-IR, DNA Fragmentation Assay, Fluorescence Microscopy/not given

Gold nanoparticles loaded nanofibers showed better in-vitro cytotoxicity against 3T3 fibroblast and A431 skin cancer cells compared to curcumin loaded nanofibers and marketed antineoplastic agents

[76]

2

Doxorubicin

Poly(lactic co-glycolic acid), poly-caprolactone, gelatin

Not given/170

SEM, Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Immuno Histochemistry/female C57BL/6 mice

Developed nanofibers showed extended in-vitro release of doxorubicin for 360 h followed by a significant reduction in tumor volume and side effects of drug compared to marketed injection of doxorubicin in experimental animals

[77]

3

5-fluorouracil

Polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan

78.90 ± 3.1/162.7

SEM, Fluorescence Microscopy/not given

Developed nanofibers were capable to sustain the release of drug and reduce in-vitro tumor cell viability up to 10% after 48 h of application

[78]

4

Curcumin

Poly(dl-lactic-co-glycolic) acid

81.1 ± 0.97/160 ± 10

SEM, FT-IR, XRD/not given

Nanofibers showed in-vitro release of curcumin following non- Fickian diffusion mechanism and excellent in-vitro cytotoxic effect against A431 cells

[79]

5

Titanium oxide nanoparticles mixed with cobalt ferrite, Doxorubicin hydro chloride

Chitosan

96.5 ± 1/110

SEM, XRD, FESEM/not given

Doxorubicin hydrochloride loaded magnetic nanofibers showed its quick release in the acidic medium after application of an external magnetic field and high anticancer activity against B16F10 cells in-vitro under similar condition

[80]