Honey has been touted as a healing agent due to its antibacterial and antiseptic properties – most recently, an international team has incorporated honey into a surgical mesh coating that could help prevent post-operative infections, report agencies.
The electrospun nano-coating for surgical meshes –composed of alternating layers of negatively-charged honey and positively-charged biocompatible polymers – slowly releases medical-grade Manuka honey to kill bacteria that might otherwise settle onto the mesh.
While all forms of honey contain bacteria-fighting hydrogen peroxide, Manuka honey, especially, also contains the more potent methylglyoxal.Lab tests showed that the nano-coating was resistant to colonisation by harmful bacteria such as MRSA, Staphylococcus and E.coli, for up to three weeks, providing ample time for soft tissue wounds to heal.
England’s Dr. Piergiorgio Gentile, from Newcastle University, was elated with the findings, “Honey has been used to treat infected wounds for thousands of years, but this is the first time it has been shown to be effective at fighting infection from inside the body.”
