title: Emerging rules for effective antimicrobial coatings.
abstract: In order to colonize abiotic surfaces, bacteria and fungi undergo a profound change in their biology to form biofilms: communities of microbes embedded into a matrix of secreted macromolecules. Despite strict hygiene standards, biofilm-related infections associated with implantable devices remain a common complication in the clinic. Here, the application of highly dosed antibiotics is problematic in that the biofilm (i) provides a protective environment for microbes to evade antibiotics and/or (ii) can provide selective pressure for the evolution of antibiotic-resistant microbes. However, recent research suggests that effective prevention of biofilm formation may be achieved by multifunctional surface coatings that provide both non-adhesive and antimicrobial properties imparted by antimicrobial peptides. Such coatings are the subject of this review.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia. Electronic address: mario.salwiczek@csiro.au.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salwiczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Strugnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lithgow
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thissen
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: anti-infective coatings; antimicrobial peptides; biofilms; implant infections; low-fouling polymers