Advances in RNA pesticides and nano-delivery systems.

RNA pesticides have garnered considerable attention in pest management due to their exceptional selectivity, environmental safety, and flexible design. They interfere with essential physiological processes in pests by silencing key genes, thereby achieving effective pest control. Moreover, RNA pesticides can target genes related to detoxification enzymes in pests, increasing pests' susceptibility to pesticides, and effectively reducing the development of pest resistance. However, several challenges remain in the practical application of RNA pesticides, including their easy degradation and inefficient in vivo delivery, which result in low bioactivity and a short duration of efficacy against target pests. In recent years, the development of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies has provided new strategies for the design of targeted and safe RNA pesticide delivery systems. This article reviews the mechanisms by which nanomaterials deliver RNA pesticides and their applications in pest control. It also summarizes research progress on the use of RNA pesticides to mitigate pest resistance and further discusses key challenges related to technical adaptability, resistance management, regulatory frameworks, and artificial intelligence integration, as well as future prospects for advancing the development of this field. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of next-generation nano-delivery systems for RNA pesticides.