Fabrication and Characterization of Zein/PDADMAC Nanoparticles to Encapsulate Tebuconazole by Antisolvent Precipitation Method**

Abstract

In order to improve the sustained release effect and antifungal activity of tebuconazole (TEB), zein /poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDADMAC) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared in this study. The hollow zein NPs were made by anti‐solvent precipitation method in which sodium carbonate was chosen as sacrificial template, and PDADMAC was combined with zein NPs via electrostatic self‐assembly after loading TEB. The NPs were characterized through particle size, Zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), sustained release effect, contact angle, encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading efficiency (LE) and antifungal activity. In this study, TEB/zein/PDADMAC NPs were stable for at least 28 days at room temperature. The release of TEB showed lower release in NPs compared with technical concentrate (TEB TC, 98 %). In addition, NPs also significantly influenced performance such as wetting performance and antifungal activity. The developed functional TEB/zein/PDADMAC NPs with excellent properties can be promising for antifungal pesticide applications.