Polymers: a new hope in the fight against bacteria?

Abstract

One of the major threats to global public health is antimicrobial resistance. This threat is predicted to only worsen over the coming decades. One of the contributing factors to this global problem is the lack of emerging novel antimicrobials. The development of synthetic polymers possessing antimicrobial activity is one potential avenue to address this issue. These compounds take inspiration from the physicochemical properties of naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides. In contrast with antimicrobial peptides, polymer synthesis can improve the tuneability of structures, improving biocompatibility. In addition, the synthesis of polymers offers a cost-effective method for large-scale production. Several polymer structures have been reported that possess potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and show potential to address biofilm infections, a problem exacerbating antimicrobial resistance. Perhaps one of the most promising applications for antimicrobial polymers is in combination therapy. Research here has reported the strong potential of polymers to act as adjuvants and rehabilitate traditional antibiotics. Overall, antimicrobial polymers offer an exciting platform for the next generation of antimicrobial agents.