Application of Antimicrobial Peptides in Wound Dressings
Summary: This review article explores how antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can be integrated into wound dressings to fight infection and support healing. It covers AMP classification, their antimicrobial mechanisms and immunomodulatory functions, and various strategies to deliver them via hydrogels, nanofibers, films, scaffolds, and sponges. Challenges in translation—like proteolytic degradation, peptide stability, controlled release, and scaling—are also discussed, along with future directions to bring AMP-based dressings into clinical use.
Key Highlights:
- AMP mechanisms: AMPs act via membrane disruption, intracellular targeting, and immune modulation to kill microbes and support tissue repair.
- Delivery systems: Hydrogels, electrospun fibers, films, scaffolds, and sponges are used to control AMP release and protect peptides in the wound environment.
- Hybrid platforms: Combining AMPs with responsive materials, metal nanoparticles, or exosome carriers can improve stability, targeting, and multifunctionality.
- Clinical potential: AMP dressings show promise in anti-biofilm activity, immunomodulation, and enhanced re-epithelialization for chronic wounds and burns.
- Translational barriers: Challenges include peptide instability in protease-rich fluids, delivery control, cytotoxicity risk, manufacturing cost, and limited human trials.
- Future directions: Focus areas include rational peptide engineering, smarter delivery platforms, standardized preclinical models, and early regulatory engagement to speed clinical translation.
Keywords:
Aoxun Zhu,
Baiqi Chen,
Jing Ma,
Jiajia Wang,
Rongfang Tang,
Liangeng Liu,
Weixin Sun,
Xingzhong Zheng,
Guangtao Pan,
antimicrobial peptides,
wound dressings,
delivery platforms,
hybrid materials