Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) as Potential Antibiotics: Classification, Development and Future Prospects in Combating...

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as promising candidates for developing novel antibiotics in response to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). These naturally occurring molecules, found across diverse organisms, play a crucial role in innate immunity and exhibit broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The present review focuses on AMPs as antimicrobial agents due to the unique mechanisms that bacteria struggle to develop resistance against them. This review aims to promote innovations in the field of drug development for AMR, such as developing better drugs by synthetic and engineered peptides. To set up a shared foundation to ensure a coherent approach to AMP development. Here, we discuss the classification of AMPs based on their structure, origin, and mode of action, highlighting their versatility and unique mechanisms compared to conventional antibiotics. The development of AMPs as therapeutic agents faces challenges such as stability, toxicity, and production costs, which are being addressed through advancements in peptide engineering, formulation strategies, and synthetic biology. Regulatory and economic challenges in AMP development are also addressed. Furthermore, this review examines the potential of AMPs to overcome AMR, their synergistic use with existing drugs, and their role in personalized medicine. Lastly, it outlines future prospects, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches and regulatory frameworks to accelerate the clinical translation of AMPs as next-generation antibiotics, a critical step towards managing antibiotic-resistant infections in the post-antibiotic era.