A Comprehensive Review of the Antimicrobial Peptide CM11: Structure, Biological Properties, and Therapeutic Prospects

The growing prevalence of drug-resistant infections and the constraints of existing cancer treatment have increased efforts to find new therapeutic agents. CM11 is a synthetic hybrid peptide derived from Cecropin and Melittin, which is a promising candidate because it has a broadspectrum of antimicrobial and anticancer effects. Preclinical research indicates that it has a rapid mechanism of action, interfering with bacterial membranes, preventing biofilm formation, and inducing apoptosis in various cancer cell lines, including leukemia and hepatocellular carcinoma. To address the inherent limitations of peptide therapeutics, new formulations, such as chitosanbased nanoparticles, have been developed to increase the stability, targeted delivery, and therapeutic efficacy of CM11. Moreover, CM11 exhibits synergistic activity with standard antibiotics or anticancer agents, thereby enabling lower effective dosages and reducing the challenges of toxicity and resistance. Despite its potential, it faces translational challenges, including peptide stability, dose-dependent toxicity, immunogenicity, and limited clinical data. Further peptide engineering, optimization of advanced delivery systems, and extensive clinical trials will be needed to achieve successful translation of CM11 from bench to bedside. In conclusion, CM11 is a multifunctional and promising tool for the development of new, synergistic regimens against resistant infections and malignancies.