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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Nov 28.
Published in final edited form as: ACS Infect Dis. 2021 Nov 11;7(12):3125–3160. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00465

Table 2.

Summary of Advantages and Limitations of Polymeric Antimicrobial Biomaterials from the Past Decade Designed for Orthopedic Implant-Associated Infection Applications

polymers: natural and synthetic
composition tested in vivo? antimicrobial activity advantages limitations ref
chitosan sponges yes 7–21 days activity zone of inhibition (1) tunable delivery kinetics (1) may require antibiotic supplement 83
(2) intrinsic activity (2) limited duration of activity
(3) biocompatibility
collagen sponges yes 3–4log10 decrease bacterial CFUs (1) biocompatibility (1) require antibiotics 86
(2) limited duration of activity
poly(lactic acid) diol and poly(caprolactone) diol coated polyethylene terephthalate yes up to 66 days activity (in vitro) and 20 days activity (in vivo) zone of inhibition (1) tunable delivery kinetics (1) require antibiotics 87
(2) limited duration of activity
poly(l-lactic)acid coated poly(d,l-lactide-co-lactide) no not evaluated (1) tunable delivery kinetics (1) require antibiotics 88
(2) limited duration of activity
poly(d-l-lactide) coating no inhibit adhesion 60% bacteria (1) tunable delivery kinetics (1) require antibiotics 89
(2) limited duration of activity
micropatterned silicone yes inhibit adhesion of >90% bacteria (1) intrinsic activity (1) short range of antimicrobial action (only prevent bacterial attachment to surface) 41
(2) long-lasting
xerogel coating (silane-based) on silicone yes 82% reduction implant infection (in vivo) (1) intrinsic activity (1) limited duration of activity 135
sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) yes bacterial clearance of 80–100% CFUs (1) promote osteogenesis (1) limited duration of activity 112
(2) durability
cross-linked PEG yes bacterial clearance of 100% CFUs (1) injectable (minimally invasive application) (1) limited duration of activity 120
poly (ethylene imine)/poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) no inhibit adhesion 80% bacteria (1) local drug synthesis (1) cytotoxicity of poly(ethylenimine) 121