Abstract: A process for forming nanofibers comprising the steps of feeding a fiber-forming material into an annular column, the column having an exit orifice, directing the fiber-forming material into an gas jet space, thereby forming an annular film of fiber-forming material, the annular film having an inner circumference, simultaneously forcing gas through a gas column, which is concentrically positioned within the annular column, and into the gas jet space, thereby causing the gas to contact the inner circumference of the annular film, and ejects the fiber-forming material from the exit orifice of the annular column in the form of a plurality of strands of fiber-forming material that solidify and form nanofibers having a diameter up to about 3,000 nanometers.

Abstract: A silk nanofiber composite network produced by forming a solution of silk fiber and hexafluroisopropanol, wherein the step of forming is devoid of any acid treatment, where the silk solution has a concentration of about 0.2 to about 1.5 weight percent silk in hexafluroisopropanol, and where the silk is selected from Bombyx mori silk and Nephila clavipes silk; and electrospinning the solution, thereby forming a non-woven network of nanofibers having a diameter in the range from about 2 to about 2000 nanometers.