Antimicrobial peptides as therapeutics: Confronting delivery challenges to optimize efficacy
Fahim Asif, Sabbir Uz Zaman, Md. Kamrul Hasan Arnab, Moynul Hasan, Md. Monirul Islam
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are low-molecular-weight peptides that demonstrate a broad range of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects against bacteria, viruses, yeasts, fungi, and are cytotoxic against cancer cells. Natural AMPs typically have a positive charge and contain fewer than 100 amino acids, along with amphipathic properties. AMPs are obtained from numerous sources, like humans, animals, plants, etc., where they act as a significant part of the innate immune system and provide first-line protection against pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, since AMPs have separate antimicrobial mechanisms from conventional antibiotics, they can be the best choice for pathogenic and drug-resistant microbial treatment. The tablet, capsule, and solution are inconvenient when given orally due to peptide degradation and lower absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Novel drug delivery systems and formulations have been developed and showed increased activity compared to single AMP. Special formulations like nanocarriers, hydrogels, cubosomes, wafers, dry powder inhalers, creams, and mouth rinse have been established and help to prevent some major barriers to clinical applications, such as cytotoxicity, bioavailability, and stability. In our review studies, we are discussing the formulation of antimicrobial peptides by classification, the different benefits and limitations of various formulation methods, and their clinical applications.