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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles
Published on: March 2, 2020
Complexation between antimicrobial peptides and polyelectrolytes
Bruno C Borro1, Martin Malmsten2
1Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
As a result of increasing bacterial resistance against antibiotics, we are facing an emerging health crisis, in which 'simple' infections may no longer be treatable. One class of molecules attracting interest in this context is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and considerable research efforts have been directed to identifying selective and potent AMPs. In addition, since in vivo delivery of AMPs is challenging, there is an emerging awareness that successful development of AMP therapeutics can be facilitated by careful design of AMPs delivery systems. In the present overview, we discuss polyelectrolyte complexation as a strategy to deliver AMPs. In doing so, key factors for AMP-polyelectrolyte complexation are illustrated for AMP-polyelectrolyte nanoparticle formation, as well as for AMP incorporation in polyelectrolyte microgels and multilayer structures, and consequences of these for functional performance exemplified.
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