Frontiers in antimicrobial biomaterials

Abstract

[Excerpt] Biomaterials can be used as implantable devices or drug delivery platforms, which have significant impacts on the patient’s quality of life. Indeed, every year, a substantial number of new biomaterials and scaffolding systems are engineered and introduced in the biomedical field, with increased health benefits observed, as reported by Spalek et al. [1]. However, their long-term use can be threatened by the adhesion and proliferation of microorganisms, which can interact and form biofilms, or by the formation of fibrosis and consequent triggered cytotoxic responses. Pathogenic microorganisms may cause local infections and lead to implant failures.