title: Perspectives on polymeric nanostructures for the therapeutic application of antimicrobial peptides.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of promising anti-infective molecules but their therapeutic application is opposed by their poor bioavailability, susceptibility to protease degradation and potential toxicity. The advancement of nanoformulation technologies offers encouraging perspectives for the development of novel therapeutic strategies based on AMPs to treat antibiotic resistant microbial infections. Additionally, the use of polymers endowed per-se with antibacterial properties, stands out as an innovative approach for the development of a new generation of drug delivery systems in which an enhanced antimicrobial action could be obtained by the synergic combination of bioactive polymer matrices and drugs. Herein, the latest AMPs drug delivery research is discussed.
authors.affiliation: BIOlab Research Group, Department of Chemistry & Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, UdR INSTM Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandreschi
authors.affiliation: BIOlab Research Group, Department of Chemistry & Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, UdR INSTM Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research & New Technology in Medicine & Surgery, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35-39, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Batoni
authors.affiliation: BIOlab Research Group, Department of Chemistry & Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, UdR INSTM Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiellini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D015195:Drug Design; D065546:Drug Liberation; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D011108:Polymers
keywords: antimicrobial peptides; drug delivery; nanostructures; polymers