Abstract
Nanoformulations of natural drugs derived from cyanobacteria can be designed using various nanoparticles, thereby acquiring suitable properties for antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities. In this study, we aimed to use a combination of natural nanoparticles and propolis to produce a wound healing cream and evaluate its antifungal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities through various tests. Four types of creams were prepared: a base cream, a cream containing nanoparticles, a cream containing propolis, and a cream containing both propolis and nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were polyvinyl alcohol/titanium dioxide nanoparticles (PVA/ TiO2 NCs) extracted from the cyanobacterium Neowestiellopsis persica. The results of measuring the diameter of inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the prepared creams showed that Candida albicans is much more resistant than Trichophyton rubrum. Histological examination of wound samples on day 14 revealed the highest epithelialization and the lowest levels of neutrophils and macrophages in mice treated with the cream containing both propolis and nanoparticles (group 4). Overall, the cream prepared with nanoparticles and propolis demonstrated significant improvement in wound healing compared to the control group. This study is the first to show the effectiveness of a therapeutic cream based on natural ingredients in promoting wound healing in animals.