The Physical and Mechanical Properties of Gellan Gum Films Incorporated Manuka Honey as Wound Dressing Materials

Abstract

In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of gellan gum (GG) films incorporated manuka honey were investigated. The result shown that by increasing the honey content in GG film, the swelling, gel fraction and mechanical properties were decreased. Gellan gum films incorporated with highest concentration of honey at 10% (GEL-H10) has lowest tensile strength and Yong’s modulus at 0.91 ± 0.2 MPa and 38.9 ± 1.7 kPa, respectively compared to GG films at lower concentration of honey. The water vapour transmission rate of GEL-H10 was recorded at 1145 ± 175 g m-2d-1 which comparable with the commercial wound dressing product. This film has shown promising results to be used as wound dressing application.