Nanoparticles have addressed many challenges in science and technology and wood science research is one such field that has benefitted from application of metal nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticles that are commercially available for wood protection are synthesised by physical and chemical methods which produces toxic by-products and are expensive. The current study deals with a new approach for utilization of metal nanoparticle for wood protection in an ecofriendly and cost effective way.

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... al nanoparticles were synthesised using plant extracts that are known to have wood preservative properties. The synergistic effects of the intrinsic property of plant extracts along with the biocidal property of metal nanoparticles were utilized. Copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesised using leaf extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica), Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata), Lantana (Lantana camara) and extract of orange peel (Citrus reticulata). The effectiveness of the synthesised plant extract and copper oxide nanoparticle formulation is tested against wood decay fungi using agar mixed with the test substance. Graveyard test is employed to assess the effect of the copper oxide nanoparticle formulation against termites. Preliminary results are promising and studies are progressing to develop a stable and environmentally benign wood preservative formulation of metal nanoparticles and plant extracts. Ansilin, S.; Kavya Nair, J.; Aswathy, C.; Rama, V.; Peter, J.; Jeyachynthaya Persis, J. 2016. Green synthesis and characterisation of copper oxide nanoparticles using Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaf aqueous extract. J Nanosci Tech 2(5): 221-223. Cai, W.; Gao, T.; Hong, H.; Sun, J. 2008. Applications of gold nanoparticles in cancer nanotechnology. Clausen, C.A.; Green, F.; Kartal, S.N. 2010. Weatherability and leach resistance of wood impregnated with nano-zinc oxide. Nanoscale Res Lett 5:1464-1467. Colvin, V.L.; Schlamp, M.C.; Alivisatos, A. 1994. Light-emitting diodes made from cadmium selenide nanocrystals and a semiconducting polymer. Nature 370: 354-357. Das, K.; Tiwari, R.K.S.; Shrivastava, D.K. 2010. Techniques for evaluation of medicinal plant products as antimicrobial agent: current methods and future trends: a review. J Med Plants Res 4: 104-111. Dhillon, G.S.; Brar, S.K. Kaur, S.; Verma, M. 2012. Green approach for nanoparticle biosynthesis by fungi: current trends and applications. Crit Rev Biotechnol 32: 49-73. Dujardin, E.; Peet, C.; Stubbs, G.; Culver, J.N.; Mann, S. 2003. Organization of metallic nanoparticles using tobacco mosaic virus templates. Nano Lett 3: 413-417. Kartal, S.N.; Green, F.; Clausen, C.A. 2009. Do the unique properties of nanometals affect leachability or efficacy against fungi and termites. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 63: 490-495. Khan, S.A.; Shahid, S.; Sajid, M.R.; Noreen, F.; Kanwal, S. 2017. Biogenic Synthesis of CuO Nanoparticles and their Biomedical Applications: A Current Review. Int J Adv Res 5(6): 925-946. Klefenz, H. 2004. Nanobiotechnology: From Molecules to Systems. Eng Life Sci 4(3):211-218. Lee, H.J.; Lee, G.; Jang, N.R.; Yun, J.H.; Song. J.Y.; Kim, B.S. 2011. Biological synthesis of copper nanoparticles using plant extract. Nanotechnology 1(1):371-374. Lee, H.Y.; Li. Z.; Chen, K.; Hsu, A.R.; Xu, C.; Xie, J.; Sun, S.; Chen, X. 2008. PET/MRI dualmodality tumor imaging using arginine-glycine-aspartic (RGD) conjugated radio labeled iron oxide nanoparticles. J Nucl Med 49(8): 1371-1379. Machado, G.O.; Cookson, L.J.; Christoforo, A.L.; Polito, W.L.; Silva, M.R; Calil, C.; Lahr, F.A.R. 2013. Wood preservation based on Neem oil: Evaluation of fungicidal and termiticidal Effectiveness. Forest Prod J 63: 202-206. Macias, F.A.; Torres, A.; Maya, C.C.; Fernandez, B. 2005. Natural biocides from citrus waste as new wood preservatives. Fourth World Congress on Allelopathy, Charles Sturt University,Wagga, NSW, Australia. Majumder, D.R. 2012. Bioremediation:Copper Nanoparticles from Electronic-waste. International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology 4(10):4388-4389. Mishra, P.K.; Giagli, K.; Tsalagkas, D.; Mishra, H.; Talegaonkar, S.; Gry, V.; Wimmer, R. 2018.