Honey-based hydrogel: A promising new-generation antimicrobial coating?

Introduction. The development of hydrogel coatings is a promising research direction in burn injury therapy. Honey-based hydrogels possess unique physicochemical characteristics due to being transparent, capable of effectively absorbing exudate, and exhibiting low pH values. All these properties make them ideal candidates for application not only in cosmetology but also in medicine for the transdermal delivery of various medicinal substances.

Objective. Synthesis of honey-based hydrogels and comparative analysis of their physicochemical characteristics and antibacterial activity.

Materials and methods. Hydrogels were synthesized based on chitosan and сarbopol with addition of 25, 50, and 75 wt % of white honey. The following parameters were investigated: viscosity (using a Brookfield rotational viscometer); spreadability (by a compression method); degree of sample swelling; stability (by centrifugation); honey release from the sample (using an ERWEKA DT-820 tester); analysis of the quantitative honey content in the buffer (by spectrophotometry). The study of in vitro antibacterial properties was conducted using Candida albicans ATCC 64550 (a yeast-like fungus), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25913 (a gram-positive bacterium), Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (a gram-negative bacterium), Acinetobacter baumannii 897 (a gram-negative bacterium), Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 (a gram-negative bacterium), Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 19606 (a gram-negative bacterium). Statistical data processing was performed using the DeltaX 3.0 software.

Results. In terms of viscosity, the hydrogel based on 1% Carbopol 940 with a honey concentration of 25 wt % outperformed other gels. The samples based on 1% Carbopol ETD 2020 with a honey concentration of 50 wt % exhibited the lowest spreadability. The highest sorption capacity 1 h and 3 h after the onset of testing was demonstrated by the sample based on 3.5% low-viscosity chitosan with a honey concentration of 25 wt %. The highest honey release was shown by the sample based on 10% low-viscosity chitosan with a honey concentration of 50 wt %.

Conclusions. The conducted study of physicochemical and antibacterial properties render chitosan-based hydrogels promising for further investigation. Hydrogel samples with a 75% honey concentration failed the stability test, which make them unsuitable for use as a therapeutic delivery system. Based on the results obtained, a mixed hydrogel based on Carbopol 940 and 3.5% low-viscosity chitosan is recommended for further research.

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