Manuka Honey Reduces NETosis on an Electrospun Template Within a Therapeutic Window

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Manuka honey is a known topical wound treatment with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Its potential as a tissue template additive in tissue engineering is being explored.
• The effect of Manuka honey on neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) within tissue engineering templates remains uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of Manuka honey incorporation into electrospun tissue engineering templates on NETosis.
• To determine the optimal concentration of Manuka honey for modulating NETosis in a wound healing context.

Main Methods:

• Manuka honey was incorporated into electrospun templates with varying fiber diameters (large and small).
• Template pore sizes and honey release kinetics were analyzed.
• Human neutrophils seeded on templates were assessed for NETosis via fluorescence imaging and myeloperoxidase (MPO) analysis.
• Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) release was also quantified.

Main Results:

• Low concentrations of Manuka honey (0.1% and 1%) significantly reduced NETosis on the template surface at 3 and 6 hours.
• A high concentration (10%) of Manuka honey increased NETosis.
• Low Manuka honey concentrations also decreased MMP-9 release from neutrophils.

Conclusions:

• A therapeutic window exists for Manuka honey incorporation into tissue engineering templates to reduce NETosis.
• These findings suggest Manuka honey could be beneficial in managing chronic inflammation and fibrosis in wound environments.
• Further in vivo studies are warranted to validate these results in a physiological setting.