Development and Evaluation of Silk Fibroin-Based Wound Dressings Incorporating Honey and Silver Nanoparticles as Pharmaceutical Models​

Due to their ability to accelerate cell growth and remarkable similarity to the skin's natural extracellular matrix (ECM), electrospun nanofibers hold great promise for aiding in skin healing. The study developed a wound dressing using electrospun, honey, silk fibroin, polyethylene oxide, and silver nanoparticles, comparing it to control samples without honey and silver nanoparticles. Silver and honey nanofibers of nanoscale size were successfully manufactured. The nanofiber dressing with 10% honey and silver nanoparticles showed 13% greater water absorption and 15% more water vapor transfer compared to the one with 15% honey, indicating better moisture management. Increasing honey concentration from 10% to 15% led to a 15% increase in the degradation rate of the nanofibers, which is crucial for wound healing as it affects how the dressing interacts with the healing tissue. The sample containing 15% honey and silver nanoparticles exhibited a 5% higher Young's modulus, 17% greater tensile strength, and a 30% increase in fiber diameter compared to the one with 10% honey, suggesting improved structural integrity. There was a 15% greater release rate of silver nanoparticles in the 15% honey and silver sample, which can enhance antimicrobial effectiveness. Importantly, all variants maintained high fibroblast cell survival rates and were effective in preventing bacterial growth, indicating biocompatibility and potential for clinical use. Overall, these findings suggest that composite scaffolds incorporating silk fibroin, honey, and silver nanoparticles are effective and have great potential as advanced wound dressings, combining moisture management, mechanical strength, and antimicrobial properties.