Development and characterization of bioactive sodium alginate dressings incorporating Melipona beecheii honey for enhanced wound healing

Healing wounds and skin lesions have been treated since ancient times, and various mechanisms have been used to treat these, from bandages, herbs, ointments, and other modern alternatives such as dressings. This work aimed to develop bioactive dressings to heal skin wounds. Dressings were prepared using the solution-drained plate technique and comprised of sodium alginate at 2 % (w/v) with different concentrations of Melipona beecheii honey, up to 5 % (w/v). The obtained dressings showed good flexibility and elongation as the honey content increased and had a suitable thickness for skin application, with values from 0.03 to 0.21 mm. They were also evaluated for barrier, optical, structural, thermal, morphological, bioactive, and cytotoxic properties. The dressings showed good moisture absorption and were adequate to maintain antimicrobial activity for up to 12 months. Moreover, they retained bioactive compounds, had good antioxidant activity, and displayed biocompatibility in biological assays. The dressings did not induce cytotoxic effects in human keratinocytes. Dressing with a 2.5% concentration of honey showed physicochemical and bioactive properties with which the healing process of skin wounds could be improved.