Abstract:  RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely applied in the study of gene function in insects and the development of novel biological strategies for the selective control of agricultural pests due to its high conservation, strong specificity, easy operation and efficient silencing. However, the practical application of RNAi in pest control also faces challenges, among which the efficiency of RNAi is the most significant limiting factor. In this review, we summarized and discussed the three main pathways of the molecular mechanisms of RNAi, the impact of nucleases on the stability of doublestranded RNA (dsRNA) and RNAi efficiency, and the research progress in using nanoparticle materials to encapsulate and deliver dsRNA. We also provide a perspective on improving RNAi efficiency by inhibiting nuclease activity in insects and combining it with target gene dsRNA, with the aim of providing references for the biological control of pests and the development of green insecticides based on nanoparticles. One of the main factors limiting the efficiency of RNAi in insects is the stability of dsRNA. Combining dsRNA with different nanoparticles to form polymers can increase the stability of dsRNA in insects, thereby enhancing RNAi efficiency. Different nanoparticles provide various ways to deliver dsRNA in RNAi applications. Nanoparticles, with their advantages of safety, low-toxicity, low-cost, good biocompatibility and high RNAi efficiency, have become a research hotspot in both domestic and international research, and are increasingly applied in insect RNAi studies, demonstrating great potential and value in pest control and the development of green insecticides. In the future, the functional design of nanomaterials should be enhanced, low-cost production processes should be developed, and an ecological risk assessment system should be established to promote the practical application and sustainable development of RNAi technology in agriculture.

Key words:  Insects, gene silence, RNA interference, doublestranded RNA, nanoparticles, pest control