Antibacterial Coatings: Challenges, Perspectives, and Opportunities

Antibacterial coatings are rapidly emerging as a primary component of the global mitigation strategy of bacterial pathogens. Thanks to recent concurrent advances in materials science and biotechnology methodologies, and a growing understanding of environmental microbiology, an extensive variety of options are now available to design surfaces with antibacterial properties. However, progress towards a more widespread use in clinical settings crucially depends on addressing the key outstanding issues. We review release-based antibacterial coatings and focus on the challenges and opportunities presented by the latest generation of these materials. In particular, we highlight recent approaches aimed at controlling the release of antibacterial agents, imparting multi-functionality, and enhancing long-term stability. Coatings releasing antibacterial agents have shown great potential to reduce nosocomial infections.The development of controlled release strategies is necessary to optimize therapeutic effects. Next-generation coatings should be multifunctional and integrate multiple antibacterial effects.Standardized assessment of both stability and antibacterial properties still need to be addressed, especially for long-term applications.