Recent Developments in Antimicrobial Polymers: A Review

Abstract

Antimicrobial polymers represent a very promising class of therapeutics with unique characteristics for fighting microbial infections. As the classic antibiotics exhibit an increasingly low capacity to effectively act on microorganisms, new solutions must be developed. The importance of this class of materials emerged from the uncontrolled use of antibiotics, which led to the advent of multidrug-resistant microbes, being nowadays one of the most serious public health problems. This review presents a critical discussion of the latest developments involving the use of different classes of antimicrobial polymers. The synthesis pathways used to afford macromolecules with antimicrobial properties, as well as the relationship between the structure and performance of these materials are discussed.

Bismuth Phosphinates in Bi‐Nanocellulose Composites and their Efficacy towards Multi‐Drug Resistant Bacteria

“…Alternatively, the act of rendering specific surfaces and medical devices resistant to microbial colonisation, has been proposed . This has given rise to increased interest and activity in the development of antibacterial polymers, leading to significant advances in the production of natural and synthetic antimicrobial materials and surface coatings …”

“…[4,5] Alternatively,t he act of renderings pecifics urfaces and medicald evicesr esistantt om icrobial colonisation, has been proposed. [6] This has given rise to increased interest and activity in the development of antibacterial polymers, [7] leading to significant advances in the production of naturala nd synthetica ntimicrobial materials and surface coatings. [4,[8][9][10][11][12][13] Metal(loids)a nd metal(loid)-based antimicrobial agents using Te,M g, As, Cu, Hg and Ag have ar ich history in medicine, and their use was prevalent well beforet he discoveryo f moderna ntibiotics in the 1920s.…”

Synthesis and characterization of antimicrobial polylactide via ring‐opening polymerization and click chemistry methods

“…However, the use of these low molecular weight antimicrobial agents is a daunting challenge due to environmental contamination caused by residues, toxicity to the human body and the short action duration which results in contaminated surfaces again after exposure to the pathogens. Taking these limitations into account, there is a definite need for macromolecular antimicrobials and so polymers with antimicrobial activities gain an increasing interest for achieving this goal . Antimicrobial polymers offer promise for prolonged lifetime, reduced residual toxicity and enhanced microbicidal activity.…”

“…Taking these limitations into account, there is a definite need for macromolecular antimicrobials and so polymers with antimicrobial activities gain an increasing interest for achieving this goal. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Antimicrobial polymers offer promise for prolonged lifetime, reduced residual toxicity and enhanced microbicidal activity. In addition, they do not permeate through skin because they are chemically stable and non-volatile.…”

Synthesis and characterization of polymeric prodrug conjugate systems based on poly (p-hydroxystyrene): In vitro hydrolysis behavior and antibacterial activity

“…Polymeric antitumor and antimicrobial agents represent an important and new direction that is developing in the field of both pharmacology and biomaterials as well (Kenawy et al, 2014, Mostafa et al, 2013. The antimicrobial property of a polymer plays an important role for many of its applications (Santos et al, 2016).…”