{
  "abstract": "RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-guided approach to insect pest management, but its efficacy depends on more than the choice of an essential target gene. The biological activity of exogenously applied double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is shaped by its molecular properties, extracellular stability, interactions with delivery materials, cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, and access to the RNAi machinery. This review examines these linked determinants and considers how differences in insect physiology contribute to variation in RNAi susceptibility. We discuss target-gene selection and sequence specificity alongside nuclease activity, gut barriers, endosomal processing, and systemic transport. Particular attention is given to nanomaterial-based formulations, including chitosan, liposomes, and layered double hydroxides, as well as microbial, symbiont-mediated, host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), and spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) platforms. Their potential benefits are assessed in relation to formulation reproducibility, production costs, environmental fate, non-target exposure, and regulatory requirements. By connecting dsRNA structure–function relationships with delivery biology and application performance, this review identifies mechanistic questions and validation steps that must be addressed to develop reliable RNAi-based tools. RNAi is best regarded as a complementary component of integrated pest management, with field deployment requiring species-specific optimization and evidence-based environmental assessment.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China",
    "Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China",
    "Molecular Laboratory, Department of Plant Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, RS, Brazil",
    "Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, College of Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China",
    "Department of Entomology, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef, University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan",
    "State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China",
    "Department of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21545, Egypt",
    "Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, Muscat 123, Oman",
    "Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China",
    "Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ghulam Murtaza",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-6209-3943"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Nageena Qayyum"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Usama Shoukat"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Noshaba Munawar"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Mirza Abdul Qayyum",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5043-987X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Haneef Tariq",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5148-3028"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Yong-Ming Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Hanaa S. Hussein",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3139-5626"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Ahmad Nawaz",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7771-1933"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8,
        9
      ],
      "name": "Guy Smagghe",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8334-3313"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/akshjs1j54y3t.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/biom16111625",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "akshjs1j54y3t",
  "issns": [
    "2218-273X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/11/1625",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-07",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/akshjs1j54y3t.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-10T00:21:28Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/biom16111625",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/11/1625"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "issn:2218-273X",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "RNA Interference for Insect Pest Management: Linking dsRNA Structure–Function Relationships, Delivery Biology, and Field Performance",
  "title_text": "RNA Interference for Insect Pest Management: Linking dsRNA Structure–Function Relationships, Delivery Biology, and Field Performance",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-10T00:21:28Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/akshjs1j54y3t",
  "venue": "Biomolecules",
  "versions": []
}