Advances of Antimicrobial Peptide-Based Biomaterials for the Treatment of Bacterial Infections

Owing to the increase in multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates in hospitals globally and the lack of truly effective antimicrobial agents, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections have increased substantially. There is thus an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial drugs and their related formulations. In recent years, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), AMP optimization, self-assembled AMPs, AMP hydrogels, and biomaterial-assisted delivery of AMPs have shown great potential in the treatment of bacterial infections. In this review, it is focused on the development prospects and shortcomings of various AMP-based biomaterials for treating animal model infections, such as abdominal, skin, and eye infections. It is hoped that this review will inspire further innovations in the design of AMP-based biomaterials for the treatment of bacterial infections and accelerate their commercialization.

Automated summary

Due to the increase in multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates and lack of effective antimicrobial agents, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections have risen significantly. There is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial drugs and formulations. Recent advancements in natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as AMP optimization, self-assembled AMPs, AMP hydrogels, and biomaterial-assisted delivery, have shown promise in treating bacterial infections. This review focuses on the development prospects and limitations of AMP-based biomaterials for animal model infections like abdominal, skin, and eye infections, aiming to inspire further innovation and accelerate their commercialization.