The use of natural resources— notably plants, animals, and fungi —for treatment of burns and wound is a common practice followed over the decades and it is an important aspect of health management . Propolis is a powerful antibacterial gum produced by honey bees with excellent antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study the possibility of using the propolis in a more expedient way, by incorporating the active compound in the nanofiber wound dressing was investigated. Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) was selected as a biodegradable, biocompatible and electrospinable substrate. Different ratio of hydro alcoholic extract of propolis (HEP) up to 60%w/w in PVA solution was electrospinned. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that nanofibers with 84.93-313.85nm diameter have been produced. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the existence of active compounds inside the nanofiber and also the lack of any chemical or physical interactions between propolis and PVA. UV-Vis spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatographic was used to determine the loading, the releasing rate and stability of compound. The overall loading of propolis, favored by a 60%w/w HEP/PVA, was about 28% due to nonpolar character of compound. The activity of the released propolis from the nanofiber mats was demonstrated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), Agar diffusion test method and growth kinetics of various bacterial species in the presence of propolis mats. Antibacterial diffusion test result showed 16mm inhibition zone against S.areus for nanofibrous mats containing HEP which was as good as the antibacterial effect of strong antibiotic, vancomycin standards discs.It was also found that using nanofibers mat had positive effect on antibacterial activity of the produced mat compared to micro fiber mat and PVA film. Keywords: Propolis, wound dressing, PVA, antibacterial, nanofiber
