The 3D polymeric network structure of hydrogels imitates the extracellular matrix, thereby facilitating cell growth and differentiation. In the current study, chitosan/hyaluronic acid/honey coacervate hydrogels were produced without any chemicals or crosslinking agents and investigated for their wound-healing abilities. Chitosan/hyaluronic acid/honey hydrogels were characterized by FTIR, SEM, and rheology analysis. Moreover, their water content, water uptake capacities, and porosity were investigated. In FT-IR spectra, it was discovered that the characteristic band placement of chitosan with hyaluronic acid changed upon interacting with honey. The porosity of the honey-containing hydrogels (12%) decreased compared to those without honey (17%). Additionally, the water-uptake capacity of honey-containing hydrogels slightly decreased. Also, it was observed that hydrogels' viscosity increased with the increased hyaluronic acid amount and decreased with the amount of honey. The adhesion and proliferation of fibroblast cells on the surface of hydrogel formulations were highest in honey-containing hydrogels (144%). In in vivo studies, wound healing was accelerated by honey addition. It has been demonstrated for the first time that honey-loaded chitosan-hyaluronic acid hydrogels, prepared without the use of toxic covalent crosslinkers, have potential for use in wound healing applications.
Keywords: chitosan; honey; hyaluronic acid; hydrogel; tissue engineering; wound healing.