Background: The high surface-to-volume ratio of polymeric nanofibers makes them an effective vehicle
for the release of bioactive molecules and compounds such as growth factors, drugs, herbal extracts and gene
sequences. Synthetic polymers are commonly used as sensors, reinforcements and energy storage, whereas natural
polymers are more prone to mimicking an extracellular matrix. Natural polymers are a renewable resource and
classified as an environmentally friendly material, which might be used in different techniques to produce nanofibers
for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, implantable medical devices, antimicrobial barriers
and wound dressings, among others. This review sheds some light on the advantages of natural over synthetic
polymeric materials for nanofiber production. Also, the most important techniques employed to produce natural
nanofibers are presented. Moreover, some pieces of evidence regarding toxicology and cell-interactions using
natural nanofibers are discussed. Clearly, the potential extrapolation of such laboratory results into human health
application should be addressed cautiously.