Application of electrostatic spinning technology for oral mucosal drug delivery

Electrostatic spinning has emerged as a versatile technique for fabricating nanofibrous membranes with broad biomedical applications, particularly in wound dressings, tissue engineering, and cancer therapy. These electrospun membranes serve as a temporary support for cell attachment and growth, enhancing cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Their inherent high porosity facilitates oxygen exchange while the elevated specific surface area effectively blocks fibroblast penetration. Moreover, the fibrous architecture enables efficient drug encapsulation and sustained localized delivery. The oral mucosa represents an ideal drug administration site due to its vascularization, permeability, and non-invasive accessibility. Despite mechanical interventions, periodontitis—a prevalent bacterial inflammatory disease—exhibits suboptimal clinical responses to systemic antibiotics. Chronic antibiotic use further exacerbates subgingival microbial resistance. Beyond periodontitis, autoimmune disorders such as lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris frequently manifest distinctive oral mucosal lesions, underscoring the need for targeted therapies. This review systematically examines the application of electrostatic spinning in oral mucosal drug delivery. Key aspects include device configurations, process variables, bioadhesive materials, and therapeutic functionalities encompassing anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. Current limitations and future directions of this technology are critically analyzed to advance its translational potential.