Scientists have developed high-tech honey sandwiches to use in the fight against superbug infections.
They have found a way to put minute amounts of Manuka honey between layers of surgical mesh which are used in operations.
There have long been health claims made about Manuka honey, the high-priced New Zealand version of the product, and honey has been used to treat wounds since ancient times as it has antibiotic properties.
Meshes are used to promote soft tissue healing after surgery and are commonly used in operations for hernias.
But there is an increased risk of infection as bacteria can get a hold inside the body by forming a “biofilm” on the mesh.
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Secondary infections following surgery are a major cause of hospital readmission, and are treated with antibiotics, but the emergence of superbugs has led researchers to look for alternatives.
A team of engineers from Newcastle University and Ulster University sandwiched eight nano-layers of Manuka honey, with a negative charge, between eight layers of a positively-charged polymer.
They showed it was possible to create an electrostatic nanocoating on the mesh which in the lab inhibits bacteria for up to three weeks as the honey is slowly released.
Publishing their findings in the journal Frontiers, the team claimed the study highlights the potential benefits of infusing medical implants with honey.
Dr Piergiorgio Gentile, co-lead author and a biomedical engineer at Newcastle University, said: “Mesh is implanted inside the body to provide stability while the internal tissues heal but, unfortunately, it also provides the perfect surface for bacteria to grow on.
“Once the bacteria form a biofilm on the surface, it’s very difficult to treat the infection.
“By sandwiching the honey in a multilayer coating on the mesh surface and slowly releasing it, the aim is to inhibit the growth of the bacteria and stop the infection before it even starts.
“These results are really very exciting.
“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 in cells from inside the body.”
Reader Q&A: Is local honey a cure for hayfever?
Asked by: Richard O’Neill, Glasgow
No. The myth is that local pollen in honey can desensitise the allergic reaction, but there’s no evidence to support it. A 2002 study at the University of Connecticut compared locally-produced, unfiltered honey, with nationally-produced, filtered honey and honey-flavoured corn syrup.
In double-blind trials, there was no difference between the three in reducing hay fever symptoms. The pollen in honey is nearly all the heavy, flower pollen that doesn’t cause hay fever. The pollen that sets your nose running is much lighter and comes from grasses and trees that bees don’t visit.
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Dr Elena Mancuso, co-lead author and lecturer within the Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC) at Ulster University, added: “Although numerous antibiotic-based coatings, constructed through layered approaches, and intended for the development of antibacterial implants, have been investigated so far, it has been found that the effect of antibiotics may decrease with time, since antibiotic resistant bacteria may potentially develop.”
Most honey is believed to have some bacteria-killing properties because it contains chemicals that produce hydrogen peroxide.
In 1991 a New Zealand study showed that when hydrogen peroxide is removed from a range of honeys, Manuka – which is made from nectar collected by bees that forage on the wild Manuka tree – was the only type that kept its ability to kill bacteria.
This is due to the presence of a unique ingredient, now identified as methylglyoxal, which has specific antimicrobial properties fight superbug infections.
