The paclitaxel/chitosan (PTX/CS) core-shell nanofibers (NFs) are easily prepared by co-assembly of PTX and CS and used in drug-eluting stent. The mixture solution of PTX (dissolved in ethanol) and CS (dissolved in 1% acetic acid water solution) under sonication will make the formation of NFs, in which small molecule PTX co-assembles with biomacromolecular CS through non-covalent interactions. The obtained NFs are tens to hundreds nanometers in diameter and millimeter level in length. Furthermore, the structure of PTX/CS NFs was characterized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), zeta potential, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nanoscale infra-red (nanolR), which provided evidences demonstrated that PTX/CS NFs are core-shell structures. The 'shell' of CS wrapped outside of the NFs, while PTX is located in the core. Thus it resulted in high drug loading content (>40 wt.%). The well-controlled drug release, low cytotoxicity and good haemocompatibility were also found in drug carrier system of PTX/CS NFs. In addition, the hydrophilic and flexible properties of NFs make them easily coating and filming on stent to prepare drug-eluting stent (DES). Therefore, this study provides a convenient method to prepare high PTX loaded NFs, which is a promising nano-drug carrier used for DES and other biomedical applications. The possible molecular mechanism of PTX and CS co-assembly and core-shell nanofiber formation is also explored. Statement of significance: We develop a convenient and efficient approach to fabricate core-shell nanofibers (NFs) through the co-assembly of paclitaxel (PTX) and chitosan (CS). Results indicate that the co-assembled PTX/CS NFs have high drug loading content (>40 wt.%), low cytotoxicity, well-sustained drug release and good haemocompatibility. The PTX/CS NFs coated easily on stents with substrate surface uneven and irregular. Findings from this work provide a novel drug/polymer system, which would have potential application for drug-eluting stent (DES). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.