DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-260011
Article
Honey-loaded oral patches: A biocompatible therapeutic potential in accelerating oral mucosal wound healing
SITI YASIN, NOOR MOKHZANI, NADIA HALIB, NORMALIZA AB MALIK, MUHAMMAD ALAUDDIN, MOHD IDRIS, ZULFAHMI SAID
Abstract
Oral mucosal wound management remains clinically challenging due to continuous exposure to saliva, microbial colonisation, and mechanical stress from mastication and speech. Conventional treatments such as gels and mouthwashes often exhibit short-term relief, resulting in suboptimal therapeutic efficacy. To address these limitations, this study aimed to develop Tualang honey (TH)-loaded oral patches for enhanced wound healing. Although TH is widely recognised for its regenerative properties, its incorporation into a sustained-release delivery system for oral tissue engineering remains underexplored. The patches were fabricated using polyvinyl alcohol, sago starch, glycerol, and TH via solvent casting, followed by comprehensive physicochemical, mechanical, morphological, and biological evaluations using primary oral fibroblasts. The formulated patches demonstrated uniform surface morphology, satisfactory mechanical strength, and good biocompatibility. Swelling analysis revealed significantly higher water uptake in TH-loaded patches compared to placebo patches. After six months of monitoring, the physicochemical properties of all patches revealed no significant changes, confirming the stability of the formulation. In vitro assessments also demonstrated TH-loaded patches enhanced cell viability and accelerated wound closure, highlighting the regenerative properties of TH. Conclusively, TH-loaded patches demonstrated stability, biocompatibility, and improved wound healing in vitro, suggesting they could serve as an effective approach for oral mucosal wound management.
Keywords
Tualang honey, oral patches, polyvinyl alcohol, sago starch, primary oral fibroblasts
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