Issue 19, 2022

Recent advances in the design of antimicrobial peptide conjugates

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ubiquitous host defense peptides characterized by their antibiotic activity and lower propensity for developing resistance compared to classic antibiotics. While several AMPs have shown activity against antibiotic-sensitive and even multi-drug resistant strains, some bottlenecks to further development and clinical applications are still present, for instance, low antimicrobial activity, instability under physiological conditions, systemic toxicity and the potential for compromising the innate host defense immunity. Conjugation to molecules such as proteins, synthetic polymers, small molecules and nanoparticles are strategies under investigation to boost the therapeutic efficacy of AMPs. This review focuses on the design and application of AMPs’ conjugates. In silico tools for creating new AMPs and AMPs’ conjugates and their clinical development are also discussed. Furthermore, key future considerations regarding the major achievements and challenges of AMPs’ conjugates in the antimicrobial resistance context are presented as a take-home message.

Graphical abstract: Recent advances in the design of antimicrobial peptide conjugates

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
15 Dec. 2021
Accepted
22 Febr. 2022
First published
22 Febr. 2022

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2022,10, 3587-3600

Recent advances in the design of antimicrobial peptide conjugates

A. R. P. Silva, M. S. Guimarães, J. Rabelo, L. H. Belén, C. J. Perecin, J. G. Farías, J. H. P. M. Santos and C. O. Rangel-Yagui, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2022, 10, 3587 DOI: 10.1039/D1TB02757C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements