Magnetically responsive electrospun fibers as programmable bioactive scaffolds: From formulation design to magnetically triggered therapy and regeneration.

Abstract

Magnetically responsive electrospun fibers (MREFs) represent an emerging class of active soft materials designed to control where, when, and how fast a therapeutic agent or biophysical cue is delivered. Unlike conventional electrospun fibers, whose release and mechanical behavior are fixed at fabrication, MREFs can be manipulated after implantation, using an applied magnetic field to generate localized heating, mechanical deformation, structural reorientation, magnetic guidance, or triggers thermoresponsive release. This review compares MREF compositions, fabrication strategies, and magnetothermal, magneto-mechanical, and magnetic-guidance mechanisms across applications in cancer therapy, tissue regeneration, wound healing, and theranostics and critically evaluates key translational barriers, safety, and regulatory requirements. Current evidence suggests that localized and surface-accessible treatments are the most realistic near-term clinical applications.