Bacteriophages and polymeric delivery systems: a mapping review

Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria and have emerged as promising agents for bacterial control in human, animal, and environmental fields. On the other hand, their practical application is limited by instability outside the bacterial hosts, which compromises their efficacy. The incorporation of bacteriophages into polymeric materials has been explored as a strategy to protect the viruses from rapid environmental inactivation and, in some cases, to allow controlled release. In this review, association maps provide a broad overview of the main polymers and fabrication approaches used to improve the stability and functionality of bacteriophages for biotechnological applications. A systematic search was performed to identify studies evaluating polymer-bacteriophage composites focusing on polymer types, bacteriophage species and fabrication processes. The results highlight the broad application of alginate and chitosan, mainly associated with ionic gelation technique, targeting bacterial strains including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica. The oral delivery of bacteriophages, wound dressings and food packaging are among the main applications. Data revealed polymer and approaches selection are mainly associated with intended uses of delivery systems and the target bacteria.