Compositions comprising honey and a super-absorbent material

1. 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; (c) the weight ratio of honey to super-absorbent polymer fiber is at least 2:1; and (d) the superabsorbent polymer fiber is able to absorb, in water, at least 10 times its dry weight whilst retaining structural integrity of the composition.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition is in the form of a semi-solid pliable sheet.

3. A composition according to claim 2 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.

4. A composition according to claim 3 , wherein the cellulose compressed material is tissue paper.

5. A composition according to claim 2 , wherein the sheet comprises a mixture of a super-absorbent polymer fiber and a cellulose fiber in a non-layered structure.

6. A composition according to claim 2 , wherein thickness of the sheet is between 0.25 mm and 10 mm.

7. A composition according to claim 2 , wherein thickness of the sheet is less than 1 mm.

8. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the honey utilizes between 5% and 50% of the super-absorbent polymer fiber's capacity.

9. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the honey utilizes less than 10% of the super-absorbent polymer fiber's absorbent capacity.

10. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein anti-microbial activity of the honey is equivalent to a solution with a phenol content of at least 10%.

11. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the honey is Manuka honey.

12. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is coated with a gelling agent.

13. A composition according to claim 12 , wherein the gelling agent is in the form of a powder or granule or sheet.

14. A composition according to claim 12 , wherein the gelling agent is any one or more of a super-absorbent polymer, alginate or carboxy-methyl-cellulose.

15. A composition according to claim 14 , wherein the gelling agent is carboxy-methyl-cellulose.

16. A dressing comprising a composition according to claim 1 .

17. A dressing according to claim 16 , wherein the composition is encased within a fluid permeable material.

18. A dressing according to claim 17 , 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.

19. A dressing according to claim 17 , wherein the fluid permeable material is a polymer based non-woven material.

20. A dressing according to claim 19 , wherein the polymer based non-woven material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene and polyethylene.

21. A composition according to claim 1 or a dressing according claim 16 , which is sterile.

22. A method of treating a lesion, comprising applying a composition according to claim 1 or a dressing according to claim 16 to the lesion.

23. A method of manufacturing a composition according to claim 1 , 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.

24. A method of manufacturing the dressing according to claim 17 , comprising:

(a) providing a composition as defined in claim 1 ; and

(b) encasing the composition within a fluid permeable material.