Development of mint essential oil based-nanosprays loaded with curcumin and β-carotene for accelerating wound healing

Wounds impose significant health and economic burdens, highlighting the need for improved treatments. Plant-derived compounds such as curcumin (Cur) and beta-carotene (Car) have pro-healing properties but are limited by volatility, poor water solubility, and instability. Nanoemulsion (NE) technology offers a promising solution. In this study, mint essential oil nanosprays (MEO-NE), with a particle size of similar to 120 nm and zeta potential of similar to-6.5 mV, were prepared using a pressure device. Formulations loaded with Cur or Car were also developed. Cryo-SEM confirmed that atomization preserved spray morphology. Antioxidant assays showed that the composite sprays had double the DPPH scavenging ability and significantly higher ABTS activity than MEO-NE alone. Antibacterial testing revealed inhibition zones of similar to 11.5 mm for MEO-NE and similar to 12.5 mm for composite sprays against E. coli and S. aureus. Cytotoxicity tests indicated good biocompatibility with L929 fibroblast cells (viability > 70 %). In vivo, MEO-NE, MEO-NE-Cur, and MEO-NE-Car treatments promoted significantly faster wound healing than control (saline), achieving similar to 99 % healing by day 12. Between days 4 and 9, MEO-NE-Cur and MEO-NE-Car outperformed MEO-NE and a positive control (antibiotic). These findings suggest that plant essential oil-based NEs enriched with active agents are effective wound dressings with strong potential for clinical application.