Chitosan and honey-based hydrogel dressings for wound healing: a review of the current state of knowledge

Chronic wounds represent a rapidly growing challenge for global healthcare. Bacterial infections remain one of the most important factors contributing to the persistence of chronic wounds. In this context, chitosan and honey have regained prominence as promising natural supportive therapy agents. This article provides a comprehensive narrative review aimed at determining the effects of chitosan- and honey-based hydrogel dressings on the wound-healing process. The Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline (PubMed) databases were searched. The review included 19 basic and preclinical studies that met the established inclusion criteria. No clinical studies were found in this area of research. It was found that chitosan and honey, as components of hydrogel systems, exhibit combined antibacterial and wound-healing properties for the treatment of chronic wounds, including burns and ulcers. They exhibited high antibacterial activity against, among others, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains. Preclinical studies demonstrated favourable biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity toward skin cells.