Perspectives on polymeric nanostructures for the therapeutic application of antimicrobial peptides

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of promising anti-infective molecules but their therapeutic application is opposed by their poor bioavailability, susceptibility to protease degradation and potential toxicity. The advancement of nanoformulation technologies offers encouraging perspectives for the development of novel therapeutic strategies based on AMPs to treat antibiotic resistant microbial infections. Additionally, the use of polymers endowed per-se with antibacterial properties, stands out as an innovative approach for the development of a new generation of drug delivery systems in which an enhanced antimicrobial action could be obtained by the synergic combination of bioactive polymer matrices and drugs. Herein, the latest AMPs drug delivery research is discussed.