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Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Double-stranded RNA Oral Delivery Methods to Induce RNA Interference in Phloem and Plant-sap-feeding Hemipteran Insects
Published on: May 4, 2018
The role of polymers in enabling RNAi-based technology for sustainable pest management
Ana Isabel Quilez-Molina1,2, Jonatan Niño Sanchez3,4, Danila Merino5,6
1BioEcoUVA Research Institute on Bioeconomy, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
Abstract:
The growing global food demand, coupled with the limitations of traditional pest control methods, has driven the search for innovative and sustainable solutions in agricultural pest management. In this review, we highlight polymeric nanocarriers for their potential to deliver double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and control pests through the gene-silencing mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi). Polymer-dsRNA systems have shown promise in protecting dsRNA, facilitating cellular uptake, and ensuring precise release. Despite these advances, challenges such as scalability, cost-efficiency, regulatory approval, and public acceptance persist, necessitating further research to overcome these obstacles and fully unlock the potential of RNAi in sustainable agriculture.
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