Polymer-Based Antimicrobial Peptide Mimetics for Treating Multi-drug Resistant Infections: Therapy and Toxicity Evaluation

By outsmarting antibiotics, the multidrug-resistant microbial strains, so-called ‘superbugs’ have rapidly evolved as a menace in the healthcare system. The decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics poses numerous threats relating to global health. Intense research is required to formulate antibiotics with high efficacy to replace ineffective ones and to fight against organisms with acquired resistance.

Before developing an effective antibiotic, deep research is likely required to understand the defense process of the particular microbial strain. Designing antimicrobial agents with a mode of mechanism complementary to the defense mechanism of pathogenic microorganisms will greatly contribute to better therapeutic effects.

Polymers with inherent antimicrobial activity surpass all the other commercial antibiotics and provide a novel framework. These polymers, which mimic the physiochemical composition and characteristics of natural antimicrobial peptides, play a prominent role in the treatment of bacterial infections, especially for multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Beyond bacterial infections, cancer cells also exhibit both intrinsic and acquired resistance to drugs.

Research investigations provide enough evidence that antimicrobial polymers also could be efficiently used to treat drug-resistant cancer. This article seeks to offer a thorough understanding of antimicrobial polymers, encompassing their attributes, clinical uses, toxicity considerations, and forthcoming hurdles.