# Applicability of Honey on Silkworms (_Bombyx mori_) and Quality Improvement of Its Biomaterials
## 3 The Impact of Honey on Silk Fibroin-Based Biomaterials
### Honey-Enhanced Silk Fibroin-Based Biomaterials
Additionally, by adding honey in these biomaterials, the swelling potential and the mechanical properties were optimal. By including 5% Manuka honey in the silk fibroin scaffolds, honey's antibacterial property was functional. Furthermore, the study's outcome revealed that the antibacterial activity was fulfilled by the sustained release [123]. Another study revealed that the incorporation of honey into silk fibroin substrates inhibits cancer development. The authors analyzed the effect of using this type of biomaterial on precancer and normal fibroblasts. By using the honey/fibroin-based substrate, the cell-cell interaction in precancer fibroblasts, but also the cell-matrix interaction, were low. On the other hand, the same interactions in normal fibroblasts were stronger. There the performance of honey on different concentrations was analyzed (1%-6%); by using silk fibroin membranes with 2% honey, the best results were observed. They concluded that the honey-enhanced silk fibroin substrate inhibits the spreading of the precancer cells, illustrating a new direction toward anticancer therapies [124]. Along the same page, [PERSON] et al., developed honey-blended silk fibroin membranes in order to improve the bio-functionality of silk fibroin biofilms to promote re-epithelial and tissue reconstruction. The results of the study showed that when high concentrations of honey are used together with silk fibroin, there is a great molecular affinity between the two elements. Furthermore, by including honey, the silk fibroin membranes exhibit a higher level of water retention than when silk fibroin is used alone. By analyzing the biocompatibility of honey-enhanced silk fibroin membranes, they observed that honey exhibits several extraordinary advantages for this biomaterial; specifically, honey increases cells proliferation, adherence and its viability [125]. In order to develop ideal antimicrobial wound dressings, [PERSON] et al. used aqueous-electrospinning to obtain Manuka honey-enhanced silk fibroin matrices. Their results showed that by using Manuka honey, the interaction and the affinity between silk fibroin matrices and cells were enhanced. Herein, once again, the extraordinary antibacterial feature of honey is highlighted. The results confirmed that silk fibroin matrices enhanced with Manuka honey exhibit antibacterial activity against several bacterial strains, such as _Escherichia coli_ (_E. coli_) or _P. aeruginosa_[126]. Furthermore, it was reported that by adding honey, the wound-healing process was accelerated. [PERSON] et al. determined that the optimal concentration of honey to be used when it comes to silk fibroin porous scaffolds is 4%. They also confirmed the abovementioned advantages of using honey-enhanced silk fibroin-based biomaterials. In addition, the authors observed that the inclusion of honey in biomaterials leads to minimum scar formation [127]. Moreover, another research study focused on combining silk fibroin together with honey and with the epidermal growth factor (rHEGF) in order to promote the process of healing of diabetic wounds. The authors demonstrated once more that honey exhibits an extraordinary ability to promote the wound-healing process and great antimicrobial activity against _E. coli_ and _Staphylococcus epidermidis_ (_S. epidermidis_) [128].