Creation of CuO-Containing Size-Controlled Nanoparticles with an Arabinogalactan Matrix and Their Interaction with Wood-Decay Fungi

In this work, we report the synthesis of novel nontoxic CuO-containing nanocomposites with a polysaccharide matrix. Biocompatible CuO-containing nanoparticles are obtained under mild conditions by an environmentally friendly condensation method. The use of an arabinogalactan matrix to regulate the size of the nanoparticles and impart hydrophilicity to them is justified. The formation of copper oxides in the presence of a polysaccharide, as a stabilizing matrix, leads to the formation of monodisperse copper oxide nanoparticles with a controlled narrow size distribution (5–11 nm), due to effective stabilization by the functional groups of the polysaccharide. The copper-containing nanocomposites are characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis. Infrared spectroscopy is used to study the coordination between CuO and arabinogalactan nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet UV–Vis spectrometry are used to analyze the size and optical properties of the nanoparticles. The surface morphology and elemental composition are studied using XRDMA. The new hydrophilic nanocomposites in an arabinogalactan matrix are nontoxic materials with respect to natural microbial communities of wood-decay fungi.