dsRNA-Loaded Silica Nanoparticles for the Management of Potato Virus Y in Potato Plants

Food insecurity is a prominent global issue. With a predicted global population of 9 billion by 2050, food production must double at a minimum to accommodate these growing numbers. One approach to combat food insecurity is targeting plant pathogens that affect crop quality and yield, resulting in an overall increase in edible food production. Plant pathogen management has previously utilized the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism for remediation; however, its widespread use has technical limitations. In this study, silica nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) were utilized as nanocarriers of therapeutic double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) to enhance dsRNA delivery into plant cells, thereby activating the RNAi system and suppressing the occurrence of potato virus Y (PVY). This highly mutable pathogen causes several adverse effects in potato and other crop plants. Fast-dissolving silica (FDS) nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), and ultraporous mesostructured silica nanoparticles (UMNs) with negative and positive surface charges were synthesized. After thorough characterization, nine distinct SiO₂ NP formulations were loaded with dsRNA, with UMNs showing the best loading capacity. Due to the negatively charged nature of dsRNA, positively charged UMNs were favored and employed in further application experiments. Gel electrophoresis indicated that dsRNA loaded into/onto these UMNs was released over several days. Fifteen days after inoculation, greenhouse experiments with tobacco plants demonstrated that dsRNA-loaded UMNs effectively suppressed PVY. In a field study, dsRNA loaded into/onto UMNs showed a 0% disease incidence, an improvement compared to dsRNA or nanoparticle application alone. These findings reveal that UMNs are an efficient nanocarrier for delivering dsRNA against PVY, thereby increasing crop health and yield. A techno-economic analysis was performed to evaluate the economic viability of this nanomaterial for industrial commercialization.