From design to application: amphiphilic copolymers as antimicrobial materials

Abstract

The rapid growth of harmful pathogens and their severe impact on health pose significant challenges to modern science. With comprehensive progress in human society, there is an increasing focus on personal health and quality of life, leading to a growing demand for antimicrobial materials. Amphiphilic copolymers can mimic the functions and molecular features of antimicrobial peptides (also known as host defense peptides), constituting a class of new antimicrobial materials often characterized by strongly cationic and hydrophobic domains. Due to their excellent and stable antimicrobial activity, low toxicity, and resistance prevention, amphiphilic antimicrobial copolymers have recently garnered considerable interest and attention in both academic and industrial sectors. This review outlines the latest advances of amphiphilic copolymers in antimicrobial applications, including their design strategies and current applications. Challenges and future directions of research in amphiphilic antimicrobial polymers are also discussed.