ABSTRACT
The emergence of antibiotic resistance as a global threat is a major concern. The development of novel effective antibacterial agents would be important. Resistant microbes are more complex to treat; therefore, unconventional alternative medications are highly requisite. Several studies have shown hydrogel as potential antibacterial material. Hydrogels are natural or synthetic polymers transformed into a unique three-dimensional network of cross-linked polymer gel. Hydrogel as smart biomaterials for drug delivery in antimicrobial areas has also been reported. Recently, hydrogels have been studied for their antibacterial activity, which makes them suitable candidates in the biomedical sector due to their unique properties such high adsorbent, better biocompatibility, higher oxygen permeability, structural diversity, and ease for drug loading and release. The current chapter discusses antibacterial hydrogels and their various types, mechanisms of actions, and implications. The hydrogel was recently highlighted to tackle the antimicrobial resistance challenge and its implication in the clinical area. Hydrogel has tremendous future prospects in the biomedical sector as an efficient antimicrobial agent.
