Nanoparticles co-delivering double-stranded RNA and insecticide enhance control efficacy and overcome pest resistance

Chao Hu; Chang Yu; Jiaqing Li; Yuxi Liu; Qinghong Zeng; Hu Wan; Shun He; Yuting Li; Ping Gao; Yuntong Lv; Kunyan Zhu; Subba Reddy Palli; Xueqing Yang

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2025.165188

Nanoparticles co-delivering double-stranded RNA and insecticide enhance control efficacy and overcome pest resistance

Chao Hu, Chang Yu, Jiaqing Li, Yuxi Liu, Qinghong Zeng, Hu Wan, Shun He, Yuting Li, Ping Gao, Yuntong Lv, Kunyan Zhu, Subba Reddy Palli, Xueqing Yang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chemical insecticides are essential in controlling agricultural pests. The emergence of resistance leads to control failures, thus developing strategies to delay the evolution of resistance while effectively managing is crucial for sustainable pest control. The development of RNA interference (RNAi) and nano-insecticides has introduced novel strategies for controlling pests, yet the synergistic application of these technologies in insecticide resistance management remains to be empirically validated. In this study, the enhancing control efficacy and dsRNA uptake efficacy through formulation with the nano-carrier, aminated mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MON-NH₂), is reported in Cydia pomonella. Following the amination process and modifications, the nanoparticles are thoroughly characterized. Delivery of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) with MON-NH₂ increased the susceptibility of both laboratory-selected and field-evolved resistant populations of C. pomonella and orchard control efficacy. Moreover, the efficiency of RNAi of MON-NH₂-dsRNA targeting resistance-related cytochrome P450 genes (CpCYP9A120, CpCYP9A121, and CpCYP9A122) was significantly enhanced compared to naked dsRNA. Furthermore, bioassays showed that utilizing MON-NH₂ for co-delivery of dsRNA of these P450 genes and LCT significantly increased the susceptibility of C. pomonella-resistant populations against LCT. Orchard trials further confirm the effectiveness of the delivery system in improving control efficacy and overcoming resistance in C. pomonella field populations and its versatility in controlling other fruit borers. Additionally, these nano-carrier co-delivery complexes pose non-target biosafety to enemies, pollinators, and a model organism. Our findings hold significance for implementing lepidopteran pest controlling using RNA-based products, offering options for resistance management in sustainable pest control strategies with currently available insecticides resistant to pest populations.

Original language	English
Article number	165188
Journal	Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume	519
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.165188
State	Published - Sep 1 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier B.V.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD1400200), Liaoning Province Science Fund for Dis-tinguished Young Scholars (2024JH3/50100027), Shenyang City Youth Science and Technology Innovation Talent Cultivation Special Project U40 (RC230879), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32272588). We thank Dr. Shan-Ning Wang from the Institute of Plant Protection and Environmental Protection, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China, for providing T. evanescens used for the biosafety assessment in this study. We thank Dr. Xin-Le Duan from Fujian Honey Bee Biology Observation Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fuzhou, China, for providing A. m. ligustica and A. c. cerana for the safety assessment in this study. This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China ( 2021YFD1400200 ), Liaoning Province Science Fund for Dis-tinguished Young Scholars ( 2024JH3/50100027 ), Shenyang City Youth Science and Technology Innovation Talent Cultivation Special Project U40 ( RC230879 ), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 32272588 ).

Funders	Funder number
Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences
Institute of Plant Protection and Environmental Protection
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China
National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China	2021YFD1400200
Liaoning Province Science Fund for Dis-tinguished Young Scholars	2024JH3/50100027
Shenyang City Youth Science and Technology Innovation Talent Cultivation Special Project U40	RC230879
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)	32272588

Keywords

Biosafety
Eco-friendly management
Insecticide resistance management
Mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles
RNAi insecticide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
General Chemical Engineering
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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10.1016/j.cej.2025.165188

Cite this

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title = "Nanoparticles co-delivering double-stranded RNA and insecticide enhance control efficacy and overcome pest resistance",

abstract = "Chemical insecticides are essential in controlling agricultural pests. The emergence of resistance leads to control failures, thus developing strategies to delay the evolution of resistance while effectively managing is crucial for sustainable pest control. The development of RNA interference (RNAi) and nano-insecticides has introduced novel strategies for controlling pests, yet the synergistic application of these technologies in insecticide resistance management remains to be empirically validated. In this study, the enhancing control efficacy and dsRNA uptake efficacy through formulation with the nano-carrier, aminated mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MON-NH2), is reported in Cydia pomonella. Following the amination process and modifications, the nanoparticles are thoroughly characterized. Delivery of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) with MON-NH2 increased the susceptibility of both laboratory-selected and field-evolved resistant populations of C. pomonella and orchard control efficacy. Moreover, the efficiency of RNAi of MON-NH2-dsRNA targeting resistance-related cytochrome P450 genes (CpCYP9A120, CpCYP9A121, and CpCYP9A122) was significantly enhanced compared to naked dsRNA. Furthermore, bioassays showed that utilizing MON-NH2 for co-delivery of dsRNA of these P450 genes and LCT significantly increased the susceptibility of C. pomonella-resistant populations against LCT. Orchard trials further confirm the effectiveness of the delivery system in improving control efficacy and overcoming resistance in C. pomonella field populations and its versatility in controlling other fruit borers. Additionally, these nano-carrier co-delivery complexes pose non-target biosafety to enemies, pollinators, and a model organism. Our findings hold significance for implementing lepidopteran pest controlling using RNA-based products, offering options for resistance management in sustainable pest control strategies with currently available insecticides resistant to pest populations.",

keywords = "Biosafety, Eco-friendly management, Insecticide resistance management, Mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles, RNAi insecticide",

author = "Chao Hu and Chang Yu and Jiaqing Li and Yuxi Liu and Qinghong Zeng and Hu Wan and Shun He and Yuting Li and Ping Gao and Yuntong Lv and Kunyan Zhu and Palli, \{Subba Reddy\} and Xueqing Yang",

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T1 - Nanoparticles co-delivering double-stranded RNA and insecticide enhance control efficacy and overcome pest resistance

AU - Hu, Chao

AU - Yu, Chang

AU - Li, Jiaqing

AU - Liu, Yuxi

AU - Zeng, Qinghong

AU - Wan, Hu

AU - He, Shun

AU - Li, Yuting

AU - Gao, Ping

AU - Lv, Yuntong

AU - Zhu, Kunyan

AU - Palli, Subba Reddy

AU - Yang, Xueqing

PY - 2025/9/1

Y1 - 2025/9/1

N2 - Chemical insecticides are essential in controlling agricultural pests. The emergence of resistance leads to control failures, thus developing strategies to delay the evolution of resistance while effectively managing is crucial for sustainable pest control. The development of RNA interference (RNAi) and nano-insecticides has introduced novel strategies for controlling pests, yet the synergistic application of these technologies in insecticide resistance management remains to be empirically validated. In this study, the enhancing control efficacy and dsRNA uptake efficacy through formulation with the nano-carrier, aminated mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MON-NH2), is reported in Cydia pomonella. Following the amination process and modifications, the nanoparticles are thoroughly characterized. Delivery of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) with MON-NH2 increased the susceptibility of both laboratory-selected and field-evolved resistant populations of C. pomonella and orchard control efficacy. Moreover, the efficiency of RNAi of MON-NH2-dsRNA targeting resistance-related cytochrome P450 genes (CpCYP9A120, CpCYP9A121, and CpCYP9A122) was significantly enhanced compared to naked dsRNA. Furthermore, bioassays showed that utilizing MON-NH2 for co-delivery of dsRNA of these P450 genes and LCT significantly increased the susceptibility of C. pomonella-resistant populations against LCT. Orchard trials further confirm the effectiveness of the delivery system in improving control efficacy and overcoming resistance in C. pomonella field populations and its versatility in controlling other fruit borers. Additionally, these nano-carrier co-delivery complexes pose non-target biosafety to enemies, pollinators, and a model organism. Our findings hold significance for implementing lepidopteran pest controlling using RNA-based products, offering options for resistance management in sustainable pest control strategies with currently available insecticides resistant to pest populations.

AB - Chemical insecticides are essential in controlling agricultural pests. The emergence of resistance leads to control failures, thus developing strategies to delay the evolution of resistance while effectively managing is crucial for sustainable pest control. The development of RNA interference (RNAi) and nano-insecticides has introduced novel strategies for controlling pests, yet the synergistic application of these technologies in insecticide resistance management remains to be empirically validated. In this study, the enhancing control efficacy and dsRNA uptake efficacy through formulation with the nano-carrier, aminated mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MON-NH2), is reported in Cydia pomonella. Following the amination process and modifications, the nanoparticles are thoroughly characterized. Delivery of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) with MON-NH2 increased the susceptibility of both laboratory-selected and field-evolved resistant populations of C. pomonella and orchard control efficacy. Moreover, the efficiency of RNAi of MON-NH2-dsRNA targeting resistance-related cytochrome P450 genes (CpCYP9A120, CpCYP9A121, and CpCYP9A122) was significantly enhanced compared to naked dsRNA. Furthermore, bioassays showed that utilizing MON-NH2 for co-delivery of dsRNA of these P450 genes and LCT significantly increased the susceptibility of C. pomonella-resistant populations against LCT. Orchard trials further confirm the effectiveness of the delivery system in improving control efficacy and overcoming resistance in C. pomonella field populations and its versatility in controlling other fruit borers. Additionally, these nano-carrier co-delivery complexes pose non-target biosafety to enemies, pollinators, and a model organism. Our findings hold significance for implementing lepidopteran pest controlling using RNA-based products, offering options for resistance management in sustainable pest control strategies with currently available insecticides resistant to pest populations.

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KW - Eco-friendly management

KW - Insecticide resistance management

KW - Mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles

KW - RNAi insecticide

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Nanoparticles co-delivering double-stranded RNA and insecticide enhance control efficacy and overcome pest resistance

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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