Bioactive elastomeric composites based on poly(glycerol adipate urethane), bioactive glass, and anoplin-derived peptide for improved antimicrobial properties

• Elastomeric composites of poly(glycerol adipate urethane), bioactive glass, and antimicrobial peptide, for small bone defect regeneration, were developed to prevent nosocomial infections. • Nature-inspired antimicrobial peptide UG39, based on anoplin, as a component of composites, delivers a rapid response against S. aureus . • The concentration of UG39 immobilised on the poly(glycerol adipate urethane)/bioactive glass composite’s surface corresponds to minimal inhibitory concentration. • Poly(glycerol adipate urethane)/bioactive glass composites under application conditions (37 °C) are in a rubbery state with T g lower about 30 °C than the temperature of the working conditions. • The master curves of the storage and loss shear moduli at 37 °C confirm a wide frequency range of rubbery state, ensuring stable mechanical properties of the composites at service conditions. Three-component antimicrobial elastomeric composites based on poly(glycerol adipate urethane) (PGAU), bioactive glass particles, and nature-inspired peptide (UG39) were manufactured for applications in regeneration of small bone defects. Due to infections frequently accompanying surgical procedures of scaffold implantation, the composites are designed to prevent nosocomial infections. The UG39 mimicing anoplin − the antimicrobial peptide found in the venom sac of the solitary wasp Anoplius samariensis , was immobilised on the surface of the composites to ensure a rapid antimicrobial response to a possible bacterial infection. For long-term antibacterial properties strontium-doped bioactive glass was used. The influence of bioactive glass on linear viscoelastic properties of PGAU was estimated. The master curves of the storage and loss modulus and loss factor at a reference temperature of 37 °C were constructed. The rubbery plateau modulus was 3.91 MPa and 5.42 MPa for the composite with 10 wt% and 20 wt% of bioactive glass, respectively. For composites with 20 wt% of bioactive glass, a beneficial broadening of the frequency range of the rubbery state was observed compared to neat PGAU. UG39-loaded composites showed cytocompatibility in vitro and demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus , including MRSA isolates, with a significant decrease in bacterial viability after 6 h of incubation.