# Antimicrobial Peptides in Preventive Medicine: Current Perspectives on Coating Strategies

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how antimicrobial peptides can be used in coatings for medical devices to prevent infections, but highlights challenges in moving these strategies to clinical use.

## Contribution

A comprehensive review of AMP-based coating strategies for medical devices and the challenges hindering their clinical translation.

## Key findings

- AMPs offer broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and can be integrated into functional coatings for medical devices.
- Sophisticated matrix-based systems improve AMP stability and biocompatibility for device coatings.
- Clinical translation of AMP-based coatings is limited by regulatory and production challenges.

## Abstract

The alarming rise
of antimicrobial resistance and the
declining
efficacy of conventional antibiotics emphasize the need for preventive
strategies. Within the setting of device-associated infections, antimicrobial
peptides (AMPs) have been extensively studied as antimicrobial candidates,
owing to their broad-spectrum activity and structural versatility,
enabling integration into functional surface coatings. This review
provides a comprehensive overview of AMP-based prophylactic approaches,
with a particular focus on coatings for medical devices prone to biofilm
formation, such as endotracheal tubes, catheters and implants. While
surface immobilization of peptides can be accomplished through comparatively
straightforward methodologies, the field has progressed toward sophisticated
matrix-based systems that enhance stability, biocompatibility and
controlled functionality. Yet, despite extensive in vitro and small-scale
in vivo studies, clinical translation remains very limited and constrained
by several hurdles including regulatory ambiguity and production costs.
Overall, this work aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the AMP-based
technologies in infection prevention research.