Microgels and hydrogels as delivery systems for antimicrobial peptides

Due to rapid development of bacterial resistance against antibiotics, an emerging health crisis is underway, where ‘simple’ infections may no longer be treatable. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute a class of substances attracting interest in this context. So far, research on AMPs has primarily focused on the identification of potent and selective peptides, as well as on the action mode of such peptides. More recently, there has been an increasing awareness that the delivery of AMPs is challenging due to their size, net positive charge, amphiphilicity, and proteolytic susceptibility. Hence, successful development of AMP therapeutics will likely require also careful design of efficient AMP delivery systems. In the present brief review, we discuss microgels, as well as related polyelectrolyte complexes and macroscopic hydrogels, as delivery systems for AMPs. In doing so, key factors for peptide loading and release are outlined and exemplified, together with consequences of this for functional performance relating to antimicrobial effects and cell toxicity.