Compositions comprising honey and a super-absorbent material

Abstract

A composition comprising honey and a super-absorbent material. A method of treating a lesion comprising applying a composition comprising honey and a super-absorbent material to the lesion. A method of manufacturing the composition of the invention, comprising: (a) providing at least one type of honey; (b) providing at least one super-absorbent material; and (c) combining the honey and super-absorbent material.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A composition comprising honey and a super-absorbent polymer fiber, which super-absorbent polymer fiber provides a lattice structure and is impregnated with the honey, wherein (a) the super-absorbent polymer fiber comprises a cross-linked polymer of acrylic acid and methacrylate; (b) the honey utilizes less than 50% of the super-absorbent polymer fiber's absorbent capacity; and (c) the superabsorbent polymer fiber is able to absorb, in water, at least 10 times its dry weight whilst retaining structural integrity of the composition. 
     
     
         52 . A composition according to  claim 51  wherein the composition is in the form of a semi-solid pliable sheet. 
     
     
         53 . A composition according to  claim 52  wherein the sheet comprises at least one layer of a cellulose compressed material or polyester, interspersed with at least one layer of a super absorbent polymer fiber. 
     
     
         54 . A composition according to  claim 53 , wherein the cellulose compressed material is tissue paper. 
     
     
         55 . A composition according to  claim 52 , wherein the sheet comprises a mixture of a super-absorbent polymer fiber and a cellulose fiber in a non-layered structure. 
     
     
         56 . A composition according to  claim 52 , wherein thickness of the sheet is between 0.25 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         57 . A composition according to  claim 52 , wherein thickness of the sheet is less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         58 . A composition according to  claim 51 , wherein the honey utilizes between 5% and 50% of the super-absorbent polymer fiber's capacity. 
     
     
         59 . A composition according to  claim 51 , wherein the honey utilizes less than 10% of the super-absorbent polymer fiber's absorbent capacity. 
     
     
         60 . A composition according to  claim 51 , wherein anti-microbial activity of the honey is equivalent to a solution with a phenol content of at least 10%. 
     
     
         61 . A composition according to  claim 51 , wherein the honey is Manuka honey. 
     
     
         62 . A composition according to  claim 51 , wherein the composition is coated with a gelling agent. 
     
     
         63 . A composition according to  claim 62 , wherein the gelling agent is in the form of a powder or granule or sheet. 
     
     
         64 . A composition according to  claim 62 , wherein the gelling agent is any one or more of a super-absorbent polymer, alginate or carboxy-methyl-cellulose. 
     
     
         65 . A composition according to  claim 64 , wherein the gelling agent is carboxy-methyl-cellulose. 
     
     
         66 . A dressing comprising a composition according to  claim 51 . 
     
     
         67 . A dressing according to  claim 66 , wherein the composition is encased within a fluid permeable material. 
     
     
         68 . A dressing according to  claim 67 , wherein the fluid permeable material is selected from the group consisting of a non-woven, woven, knitted or other textile material of synthetic or natural origin, and a polymer film. 
     
     
         69 . A dressing according to  claim 67 , wherein the fluid permeable material is a polymer based non-woven material. 
     
     
         70 . A dressing according to  claim 69 , wherein the polymer based non-woven material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         71 . A composition according to  claim 51  or a dressing according  claim 66 , which is sterile. 
     
     
         72 . A method of treating a lesion, comprising applying a composition according to  claim 51  or a dressing according to  claim 66  to the lesion. 
     
     
         73 . A method of manufacturing a composition according to  claim 51 , comprising:
 (a) providing at least one type of honey;   (b) providing at least one super-absorbent polymer fiber; and   (c) combining the honey and super-absorbent polymer fiber.   
     
     
         74 . A method of manufacturing the dressing according to  claim 67 , comprising:
 (a) providing a composition as defined in  claim 51 ; and   (b) encasing the composition within a fluid permeable material.