Intrinsic antimicrobial resistance: Molecular biomaterials to combat microbial biofilms and bacterial persisters

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis, exacerbated by biofilms and bacterial persister cells that resist conventional antibiotics.
• Current antibiotic pipelines are insufficient to combat the rising threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections.
• Biofilms and persister cells provide enhanced microbial survival strategies, complicating infection treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in molecular biomaterials and therapeutics for combating acquired and intrinsic AMR.
• To elucidate the microbiology of biofilms and persister cells in the context of AMR.
• To provide perspectives on future biomaterial designs for overcoming AMR and treating chronic MDR infections.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on AMR, biofilms, persister cells, and novel therapeutic strategies.
• Categorization and analysis of various biomaterial approaches against intrinsic AMR.
• Elucidation of structure-activity relationships for different classes of biomaterials.

Main Results:

• Discussion of semi-synthetic antibiotics, antimicrobial peptide-mimicking biomaterials, synergistic adjuvants, nano-therapeutics, nitric oxide-releasing agents, antimicrobial hydrogels, and coatings.
• Highlighting the potential of these biomaterials to address both acquired and intrinsic AMR.
• Emphasis on the importance of understanding structure-activity relationships for effective biomaterial design.

Conclusions:

• Molecular biomaterials offer promising avenues to combat AMR, biofilms, and persister cells.
• Further research into biomaterial design, focusing on structure-activity relationships, is crucial for developing effective treatments.
• Novel therapeutics are essential to overcome the limitations of conventional antibiotics in treating chronic and MDR infections.