The prevention of implant-associated infection, one of the leading causes of arthroplasty failure,
remains a major challenge in orthopaedic surgery. The main strategies currently pursued are based on surface
modifications to render implants less susceptible to bacterial colonization. The antimicrobial peptides of the
innate immunity (AMPs) are considered a promising source of novel anti-infective agents and are receiving
increasing attention in the field of medical devices due to their proven anti-biofilm properties. Our group has
selected three AMPs derived from natural sequences, that are highly effective in vitro against prosthetic joint
pathogens, also including antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates. These peptides maintain their antimicrobial
activity under conditions relevant to the joint environment and are safe to osteoblast cells under similar
conditions, which makes them suitable for orthopaedic applications. Current studies aimed at evaluating
their anti-inflammatory and osteogenic potential will allow to identify the best candidate to be used for the
development of novel AMP-based antibacterial coatings for arthroplasty implants.
