Nano-delivery platform with strong protection and efficient delivery: preparation of self-assembled RNA pesticide with dual RNAi targets against Apolygus lucorum

作者：Heng Qiao, Qinhong Jiang, Jing Zhao, Liubin Xiao, Keyan Zhu‐Salzman, Dejin Xu, Guangchun Xu, Jie Shen, Aiguo Gu, Dejun Hao, Shuo Yan, Yongan Tan · 发表于：Journal of Nanobiotechnology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12951-025-03155-x · 被引用次数：34 · 研究领域：Insect Resistance and Genetics、Polymer-Based Agricultural Enhancements、Insect-Plant Interactions and Control

BACKGROUND: RNA pesticide is regarded as the "third revolution in the history of pesticides". However, the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is easily degraded in the environment, and its delivery efficiency is not sufficient for pest management. This study aimed to construct a star polycation (SPc)-based delivery platform with strong protection and efficient delivery to develop a self-assembled RNA pesticide with dual RNA interference (RNAi) targets. RESULTS: The nanocarrier SPc was applied to assemble with dsRNA via electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bond and Van der Waals force, and the self-complexation with SPc formed nanoscale dsRNA/SPc complex. The SPc could protect the dsRNA from the degradation by midgut fluid or RNase A, thus significantly increasing the stability of dsRNA under various environmental conditions. Meanwhile, the SPc was able to improve the translocation of dsRNA across insect cuticle, and increase its plant uptake. Then, dsECR-A and dsTre-1 fragments were individually screened, and the dsECR-A and dsTre-1 fragments with good control effects were co-expressed in pET28-BL21 (DE3) RNase III - system to prepare the dsECR-A + Tre-1/SPc complex. Both topical application and spraying of dsECR-A + Tre-1/SPc complex could effectively control a piercing-sucking agricultural pest Apolygus lucorum. The SPc-loaded dsECR-A + Tre-1 could up-regulate endocytosis-related genes and down-regulate cuticle biosynthesis-related genes, which primarily inhibited insect growth and...