Honey: An Advanced Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering Applications

Abstract

Honey was used in traditional medicine to treat wounds until the advent of modern medicine. The rising global antibiotic resistance has forced the development of novel therapies as alternatives to combat infections. Consequently, honey is experiencing a resurgence in evaluation for antimicrobial and wound healing applications. A range of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains and biofilms, are inhibited by honey. Furthermore, susceptibility to antibiotics can be restored when used synergistically with honey. Honey’s antimicrobial activity also includes antifungal and antiviral properties, and in most varieties of honey, its activity is attributed to the enzymatic generation of hydrogen peroxide, a reactive oxygen species. Non-peroxide factors include low water activity, acidity, phenolic content, defensin-1, and methylglyoxal (Leptospermum honeys). Honey has also been widely explored as a tissue-regenerative agent. It can contribute to all stages of wound healing, and thus has been used in direct application and in dressings. The difficulty of the sustained delivery of honey’s active ingredients to the wound site has driven the development of tissue engineering approaches (e.g., electrospinning and hydrogels). This review presents the most in-depth and up-to-date comprehensive overview of honey’s antimicrobial and wound healing properties, commercial and medical uses, and its growing experimental use in tissue-engineered scaffolds.

pH-Responsive wound dressings: advances and prospects

“…36,40,41,52,53,55,56,58 Honey is a common antimicrobial and antioxidant agent in food, and according to reports, it has been widely used in the treatment of wounds, including traumatic wounds, surgical incisions, and burns. 81,82 Noori et al synthesized a pHresponsive nanocomposite hydrogel based on chitosan/PVA/ nanoclay using a freeze-thaw method. The maximum cumulative release of honey occurred at pH 7, whereas the wound size reduction in the PCMH group was 72.60% compared to that in the control group (55.23%, 6 days).…”

A Brief Review on the Electrohydrodynamic Techniques Used to Build Antioxidant Delivery Systems from Natural Sources

“…Other examples involve applications in the cosmetics field. In fact, the high surfacearea-to-volume ratio of electrohydrodynamic structures improves the number of additives that can enter/exit the skin [45].…”

Manuka Honey/2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate/Gelatin Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffolds for Potential Tissue Regeneration

“…The use of agents derived from nature that possess medicinal properties has always been an intriguing topic. Honey is a bioactive agent, and its healing properties have been recognized for centuries [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Manuka honey (MHo) stands out due to the specific Manuka factor (UMF), which provides antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Honey features may influence increased macrophage stimulation, facilitating tissue regeneration and minimizing bacterial infections [ 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Manuka honey has proven to be a very effective agent in the treatment of wounds [ 1 , 2 ].…”