Beyond Antibiotics: The Role of Antimicrobial Polymers in Modern Therapeutics

Antimicrobial polymers are a potential and viable alternative to antibiotic therapies, whose effectiveness is increasingly compromised by the onset of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic persistence. Antimicrobial polymers also have potential in the formulation of new drug delivery systems. Difficulties in finding new naturally derived compounds and classes of antimicrobials pose a major threat to public health and have made finding an alternative crucial. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the antimicrobial polymers currently available, whether of natural or synthetic origin, and to explore their use in pharmaceutical formulations, including a brief description of their preparation methods. Furthermore, a critical assessment of the advantages, limitations, and potential future developments of these systems will be presented, with particular attention to their clinical applicability, safety profiles, and role in combating antimicrobial resistance. Finally, the review highlights key challenges and future directions for the clinical translation of antimicrobial polymer-based systems, with a focus on safety, scalability, and their potential role in addressing antimicrobial resistance.