Recent Trends in Gelatin Electrospun Nanofibers: Advances in Fabrication, Functionalization, and Applications

Bio-based nanofibers are gaining increasing attention in nanotechnology owing to their high surface area, interconnected porosity, and capacity to incorporate bioactive compounds. Among natural polymers, gelatin is particularly attractive because of its abundance, low cost, biodegradability, and versatile physicochemical properties. When processed by electrospinning, gelatin combines its amphiphilic nature with the structural advantages of nanofibers, enabling efficient interactions with a wide range of molecules. Nevertheless, pure gelatin nanofibers have drawbacks, such as poor mechanical strength and high-water solubility. To address these limitations, strategies including polymer blending, chemical and physical crosslinking, and multilayer biomaterials have been developed, resulting in improved stability, functionality, and application-specific performance. Therefore, this review summarizes recent advances in the fabrication and functionalization of gelatin nanofibers, highlighting how processing parameters and gelatin source influence electrospinning outcomes and fiber properties. Key applications are also discussed, with emphasis on biomedical, food, environmental, and biosensing. Therefore, gelatin nanofibers represent a sustainable and versatile biomaterial with high potential for advanced technological applications.