Erythromycin Releasing PVA/sucrose and PVA/honey Hydrogels as Wound Dressings with Antibacterial Activity and Enhanced Bio-adhesion.

The present study deals with preparation and characterization of thermally crosslinked PVA-based hydrogels containing honey and sucrose for the purpose of erythromycin delivery. The hydrogels have been characterized and compared by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and bio-adhesion tests. Swelling measurements showed that addition of sucrose and honey decreased the equilibrium swelling of the hydrogels.