Amphiphilic core/shell nanoparticles to reduce biocide leaching from treated wood, 1 - leaching and biological efficacy

Core/shell nanoparticles containing the fungicide tebuconazole were prepared from amphiphilic copolymers of gelatin grafted with MMA. The grafting was performed in water at levels of 1.5-15 wt.-% solids based on matrix mass, to give core/shell nanoparticles with median diameters ranging from ≈200 to 400 or ≈10 to 100nm depending on composition, conditions used, and workup. The biocide-containing nanoparticles were delivered into wood in up to 85% efficiency. Wood blocks treated with tebuconazole-containing nanoparticles leached less tebuconazole than wood blocks treated with tebuconazole solutions. The best nanoparticle formulations afforded wood blocks with a biological efficacy comparable to solution-treated wood block controls in soil jar decay tests