BTÜ academics have transformed bee bread into an invention that can be used in industrial and medical fields. Thanks to the patented invention, the product obtained from bee bread can be applied locally, especially in artificial vessels, prostheses and wound infections.

While the use of bee products in the food industry, apitherapy and pharmacology is increasing, BTÜ academics have made a new discovery using bee bread. The invention titled "Polymer Biocomposites with Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity through Bee Bread and Their Production Method" was also registered by the Turkish Patent Office. The invention, which involves obtaining biocomposite nanofiber from bee bread, can be applied locally in the field of health, especially in artificial vessels, prostheses, tissue support materials, haemostatic materials, wound care products used in wound infections and open wounds, as well as systemically in immunosuppressive or balancing the immune system in transplant patients. It has the potential to be used as main or intermediate raw material. Assoc. Prof. from the Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Dr. Aycan Yiğit Çınar, Associate Professor of Bioengineering. Dr. Gökçe Taner, Associate Professor of Polymer Materials Engineering. Dr. Meral Akkoyun Kurtlu and Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at Health Sciences University Bursa Higher Specialization Training and Research Hospital. Dr. Faruk Toktaş is the owner of the patented invention…

Main Source of Proteins…

Underlining that bee bread is a product that has been known and used in traditional public health for many years and has attracted attention with its high nutritional value in recent years, Assoc. Dr. Gökçe Taner said, “Bee bread is the main source of proteins, lipids, microelements and vitamins for bees and is the most nutritious food. The most distinctive feature that distinguishes this product from other bee products is that it is a fermented product. The fact that it has all the biologically active substances present in other bee products as well as fermentation by-products makes bee bread valuable. "In this respect, being rich in active biological components allows bee bread to be used as a therapeutic agent with antimicrobial and therapeutic potential against diseases," she said.

It is used as raw material in many sectors

Providing information about the invention, Assoc. Dr. Meral Akkoyun Kurtlu said, “The invention, for which we have patented, involves adding bee bread additive to various thermoplastic polymer solutions and obtaining biocomposite nanofiber with improved antimicrobial properties by electrospinning method. Bee bread added polymer matrix biocomposite nanofibers; It is used as main or intermediate raw material in areas requiring hygiene such as medical materials, packaging, food coating production, and in textile, automotive, furniture and chemistry fields. The mentioned biocomposite nanofiber can also be applied locally in the field of healthcare, especially in artificial vessels, prostheses, tissue support materials, haemostatic materials, wound care products used in wound infections and open wounds, as well as systemically as the main or intermediate raw material in balancing the immune system in immunosuppressive or transplant patients. "It has the potential to be used," she said.

Our Target is International Patent

Stating that they will continue their work to use innovative materials in various industrial and especially medical applications, Assoc. Dr. Aycan Yiğit Çınar said, “Immediately after the National Patent, a United States patent application was made for the study, for which it was decided that the international process would continue. We would like to thank for their support in this regard first of all our Rector Prof. Dr. Naci Çağlar and all the administrators of our university.Registration of the patent makes a significant contribution to the national and international recognition of scientific research and innovative studies carried out in our country. "This discovery will bring a new perspective to the development of research and applications both in the field of engineering and healthcare," she said.