Polymeric Biomaterials for Prevention and Therapeutic Intervention of Microbial Infections

The escalating emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens and their ability to colonize into biofilms on a multitude of surfaces have struck global health as a nightmare. The stagnation in the development of antibiotics and the deterioration of clinical pipelines have incited an invigorating search for smart and innovative alternatives in the scientific community. Further, a steep rise in the usage of biomedical devices and implants has resulted in an accelerated occurrence of infections. Toward the goal of mitigation of the aforementioned challenges, antimicrobial polymers have stood out as an astounding option. In this perspective, we highlight our contribution to the field of polymeric biomaterials for tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and infections. Polymers inspired from antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been utilized as therapeutic interventions to curb MDR infections and also to rejuvenate obsolete antibiotics. Further, cationic polymers have been used to impart antimicrobial properties to different biomedical surfaces. These cationic polymer-coated surfaces can inactivate pathogens upon contact as well as prevent their biofilm formation. In addition, antimicrobial hydrogels, which are prepared from either inherently antimicrobial polymers or biocide-loaded polymeric hydrogel matrices, have also been engineered. With a brief overview of the progress in the field, detailed elaboration of the polymeric biomaterials for prevention and therapeutic intervention of microbial infections developed by our group is presented. Finally, the challenges in the field of antimicrobial polymers with discussion on the proceedings of polymeric research to alleviate these challenges are discussed.