Polymer- and peptide-based antiviral surface coatings: progress, mechanistic gaps, and future directions

Indirect transmission of viruses via contaminated surfaces highlights the need for effective antiviral coatings. Recent advances have led to the development of diverse surface engineering strategies, including organic (polymer- and peptide-based) and inorganic (metal-based) coatings. While polymer and peptide-based systems have been extensively explored in the antibacterial field, their application in antiviral coatings remains underexplored despite their demonstrated ability to reduce viral titers. This minireview provides a mechanistically informed overview of polymer- and peptide-based antiviral surface coatings. We summarize recent studies with a focus on coating materials, methods, physicochemical characterization techniques, target viruses, and antiviral performance. In addition, we critically evaluate key limitations in the field, including the lack of standardized testing protocols, restricted diversity of surfaces and viruses, and insufficient assessment of coating durability and cytotoxicity. Finally, we discuss future directions focused on standardized and rationally designed evaluation frameworks to support the practical translation of antiviral coatings.