There is probably no person among us who would not try honey therapy during an infection, because this is one of the proven ways of our grandmothers. 

In ancient times, honey was used as a medicine that significantly accelerated wound healing, and now history has come full circle again and this sweet delicacy will again find its place in surgery. As we know well, honey is not only a sugar substitute, but also a strong remedy for many ailments if it is used well. Therefore, the researchers decided to use its bactericidal properties in the production of surgical meshes, thanks to which they are to prevent postoperative infections.

It has long been known that all types of honey fight bacteria very well, because they contain components that produce hydrogen peroxide. There is also one more specialized honey in this matter, namely New Zealand Manuka honey, which also contains Methylglyoxal, i.e. a compound with antibacterial and antioxidant properties, resistant to heat, light, enzymes and body fluids. With this in mind, an international team of specialists has set the goal of creating a nanospray for electrospinning for surgical meshes that gradually release medical grade Manuka honey.

Currently, traditional meshes are often used to accelerate the healing of soft tissues after surgery, but these increase the risk of infection because a bacterial biofilm forms on their surface. The new type of mesh consists of eight negatively charged honey nanolayers sandwiched between eight layers of positively charged biocompatible polymer. The idea is that when the polymer harmlessly breaks down in the body, fresh layers of honey are released, killing bacteria that could nest on the mesh.

In laboratory tests, nanolayers have proved their effectiveness before colonization of such bacteria as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), other staphylococci and E coli, for a period of 3 weeks from the establishment of the mesh, which should be enough time for the patient to heal the wounds. According to Dr. Piergiorgio Gentile from Newcastle University: - The results are very exciting. Honey has been used to treat infected wounds for thousands of years, but this is the first time its effectiveness has been demonstrated in the fight against cellular infections inside the body.

Either you like it or not, honey may save the lives of people thanks to its reactions during the therapy. As we mentioned, it was already used in therapy in the ancient times. In the future, scientists will find more benefits of honey and maybe many other natural things we use in our daily life. 

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