Biodegradable Polymers and Polymer Composites with Antibacterial Properties

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to global health and food security today. It becomes increasingly difficult to treat infectious disorders because antibiotics, even the newest ones, are becoming less and less effective. One of the ways taken in the Global Plan of Action announced at the World Health Assembly in May 2015 is to ensure the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. In order to do so, attempts are made to develop new antimicrobial therapeutics, including biomaterials with antibacterial activity, such as polycationic polymers, polypeptides, and polymeric systems, to provide non-antibiotic therapeutic agents, such as selected biologically active nanoparticles and chemical compounds. Another key issue is preventing food from contamination by developing antibacterial packaging materials, particularly based on degradable polymers and biocomposites. This review, in a cross-sectional way, describes the most significant research activities conducted in recent years in the field of the development of polymeric materials and polymer composites with antibacterial properties. We particularly focus on natural polymers, i.e., polysaccharides and polypeptides, which present a mechanism for combating many highly pathogenic microorganisms. We also attempt to use this knowledge to obtain synthetic polymers with similar antibacterial activity.

Bactericidal Biodegradable Linear Polyamidoamines Obtained with the Use of Endogenous Polyamines

“…Of the total number of clinical complications related to the implantation procedure, infections related to microbiological contamination of the implanted biomaterial are assigned the main role [ 5 , 6 ]. The threats associated with this phenomenon, intensified by the emergence of AMR and the limited ability of antibiotics to eradicate biofilms, force us to undertake comprehensive efforts regarding the use of new alternative therapies, antibacterial biomaterials, and biomaterial-assisted delivery of non-antibiotic therapeutics, such as bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, and antimicrobial enzymes [ 7 , 8 ]. Synthetic polyamines containing amide groups with a higher molecular weight than natural ones are particularly interesting due to the wider possibilities of biomedical applications, including substances with strong anti-cancer properties [ 9 ].…”

Bactericidal Chitosan Derivatives and Their Superabsorbent Blends with ĸ – Carrageenan

“…Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, antibiotic treatment was used on a massive scale, practically without medical supervision. To effectively fight multidrug-resistant bacteria, it was necessary to look for stronger or more complex antibiotic formulas [2]. Polymers, especially those containing nitrogen-based groups possess not only antibacterial properties but also are not toxic even more, they become a nutrition for plants and therefore are becoming increasingly important not only in medicine and health care but also in cosmetics, food, but also in textile industries or agriculture [3][4][5][6].…”

Eco-Friendly Cellulose-Based Nonionic Antimicrobial Polymers with Excellent Biocompatibility, Nonleachability, and Polymer Miscibility

“…Most synthetic antimicrobial polymers are petroleum-based, which are physiologically toxic, difficult to biodegrade, and cause environmental pollution. 19,20 Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop eco-friendly, efficient, biodegradable, nonleachable, and long-lasting nonionic antimicrobial polymers. 21 Cellulose is the most abundant natural biomass polymer, mainly found in cotton, wood, flax, and grass cell walls.…”

“…However, small-molecule antimicrobial agents are susceptible to leaching and migration of antimicrobial molecules, easy-to-cause secondary environmental pollution, have physiological toxicity, and the use of a large number of small molecules of antimicrobial agents can cause bacterial resistance. , Synthetic antimicrobial polymers have stronger antimicrobial activity, lower potential to induce antimicrobial resistance, and a lower leaching risk and environmental toxicity than small-molecule antimicrobial agents. , However, most of the currently reported antimicrobial polymers of this type are ionic, and their ionic interactions with cell membranes are the key to their antimicrobial activity. , Ionic polymers may have poor water solubility, poor antimicrobial performance sustainability, risk of scaling, and toxicity problems in practical applications. Most synthetic antimicrobial polymers are petroleum-based, which are physiologically toxic, difficult to biodegrade, and cause environmental pollution. , Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop eco-friendly, efficient, biodegradable, nonleachable, and long-lasting nonionic antimicrobial polymers …”