Microcapsules of chitosan-loaded luffa seed oil for improving the mold-resistance of bamboo

Mold infestation-induced degradation of quality and performance of bamboo remains a persistent and unresolved issue in the bamboo engineering industry. Herein, an effective strategy was proposed to prepare mold resistant bamboo by luffa seed oil (LSO) microcapsules impregnation method. First, microcapsules were prepared by ionic gelation method, with LSO as the core and chitosan as the shell. Second, the microwave-pretreated bamboo slices were vacuum impregnated with the microcapsules. Microcapsules exhibited good slow-release properties, with a maximum embedding ratio of 17.65% and an average particle size of less than 500 nm. Microcapsules got adsorbed, bonded to, or fused with the bamboo fiber cell wall, and they exhibited less effect on the moisture absorption ratio, moisture desorption ratio, and mechanical properties of bamboo. However, the microcapsule impregnation treatment led to significant improvement in the mold resistance of the bamboo slices, so that the infection level was still level 1 after 30 d of inoculation with mold. This strategy lays a strong foundation for further research on mold-resistant bamboo materials and encourages new applications in green engineering. [Display omitted] •Luffa seed oil (LSO) microcapsules with particle size below 500 nm were prepared.•LSO microcapsules exhibited good slow-release property.•Microcapsules achieved deep impregnation in bamboo through pores in bamboo slices.•Microcapsule treatment significantly improved the mold resistance of bamboo slices.•Microcapsule treatment preserves excellent mechanical properties of bamboo slices.