On this basis, co-delivery of other chemotherapeutic drugs or natural active products also achieves synergistic therapeutic effect
[46]. Chao and co-workers reported a mesoporous magnetite ferrite NP as an inorganic drug carrier, which can efficiently encapsulate hydrophobic drug (rifampin) and simultaneous co-load hydrophilic drug (isoniazide)
[47]. Besides, the prepared NPs exhibit excellent biocompatibility and cellular uptake, which can enhance drug loading capacity and solve the delivery problem of hydrophobic drug molecules
[48].
2.2. Co-Delivery of Genes
Nucleic acid-based gene therapy is based on therapeutic molecules DNA or RNA, which aims to achieve multiple goals in vivo, including (1) deliver siRNA, miRNA or dsRNA for gene down regulations; (2) deliver pDNA or mRNA for gene over expression
[49][50]. Co-delivery of the nucleic acids has the potential to regulate target gene expression level, hence changing protein content and even disease development. Similar to co-delivery of antitumor drugs, different formulations containing various nucleic acid molecules have been screened for overcoming MDR
[51].
In 2013, Tabernero et al. used lipid NPs to co-deliver two modified siRNAs and performed the first human clinical trials
[52]. Ball et al. established the co-delivery system of siRNA and mRNA based on the same lipid NP that can enhance the efficacy of both agents in vitro and in vivo
[53]. NPs co-delivering siRNA and mRNA can mediate significantly higher levels of gene silencing compared to NPs loading siRNA alone. When the same set of cells is assessed for mRNA delivery, the co-delivery system again produces better results. Yang et al. used nano-carriers to co-deliver
K-ras and
Notch siRNA
[54]. This strategy increases the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine and also helps to resolve MDR. Wang et al. designed and constructed liposomal NPs loaded with both
p38α MAPK and
p65 siRNA
[55].
2.3. Co-Delivery of Genes and Drugs
Although many effective research studies and treatments have been made, nucleic acids face the same problems with cancer heterogeneity and adaptive resistance as traditional small molecule drugs in cancer therapy. With the achievements obtained from the fields of chemotherapy and gene therapy, co-delivery of drugs and genes has attracted wide attention in combination therapy due to its synergistic therapeutic effects
[56][57][58]. The general incentive behind the co-delivery system is to disrupt MDR signaling pathways. For example, the combination of anticancer drugs and siRNA has great potential in cancer treatment to achieve synergistic effect and overcomes the hurdlers of using a single drug
[59][60].
3. Co-Delivery System in Agricultural Field
In agricultural and environmental fields, some nanoparticles can be used alone due to their own properties
[61]. Metal oxides TiO
2 have been shown to have excellent dye degradation activity and can be applied for environmental remediation
[16][62]. Biosynthesized AuNPs modulated the accumulation of nitric oxide and induced salt stress tolerance in wheat plants
[63]. Meanwhile, NPs can be directly used as nanopesticides due to their antibacterial or insecticidal properties
[62].
3.1. Nanoparticles Deliver Pesticides (Drugs)
Nanopesticides are similar to other common pesticide formulations in that they help to improve the apparent solubility of the insoluble AIs, or release the AIs in a slow or targeted manner, thereby protecting them from premature degradation
[64][65][66]. For nanopesticides composition, AIs can be loaded on the inorganic NPs surface, incorporated into the pores of porous NPs or conjugated with polymer. The high surface-to-volume ratio of silica NPs has been widely used as nanofertilizers and nanopesticides
[67][68].
Polymeric NPs are of significant interest for encapsulation of pesticides due to many unique features such as renewable, biodegradable, low cost, and environmental responsibility
[69]. Yan et al. used a polymeric NP (Star polycation, SPc) to assemble with botanical pesticide matrine, reducing its particle size to 10 nm in aqueous solution and amplifying its bioactivity by about 20% in vitro and in vivo
[70]. The SPc can not only increase the bioactivity of loaded pesticides, but also reduce pesticide residue
[66][71]. The SPc can also assemble with calcium glycinate to prepare a calcium nutrition nanoagent with nanoscale size (17.72 nm), thus enhancing transport and antiviral immunity
[72]. The calcium transport is accelerated into tomato leaves and the protective effect of calcium glycinate is remarkably improved toward tomato mosaic virus.
NPs can greatly improve the environmental stability of AIs and build a controlled release system of agents that respond to external pH, enzyme, light, temperature, and other factors
[73]. The stimulus-responsive nanocarriers typically employ widely available and biodegradable natural polymers including ethyl cellulose and starch. Liu et al. developed a composite that chemically functionalized chitosan and attapulgite clay as pesticide carriers capable of responding to UV-accelerated release
[74].
3.2. Nanoparticles Deliver Nucleic Pesticides (Genes)
RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved regulatory mechanism mediated by the siRNA pathway, microRNA pathway, and Piwi-interacting RNA pathway, which can silence or inhibit the expression of target genes
[75][76][77]. For nanopesticides, the addition of NPs enhances the stability of nucleic acid molecules and makes them free from degradation. The lipid formulation of dsRNA is protected from the degradation by endonucleases present in Sf9 cell conditioned medium, hemolymph, and mid-intestinal cavity contents of
Spodoptera frugiperda [78]. For another example, SPc and perylenediimide-cored cationic dendrimer can prevent dsRNA from degradation by RNase A and hemolymph of aphids and fall armyworms
[79].
In addition to shielding and protecting dsRNA from nuclease degradation in the environment, NPs can also facilitate the transport of dsRNA across the membrane and avoid its degradation in endosomes or lysosomes. For instance, a cationic core–shell fluorescent nanoparticle is able to accelerate endocytosis and deliver DNA across cell membrane for efficient cellular uptake
[80]. Lu and co-workers designed the block copolymer poly to form well-defined, core–shell NPs to facilitate its passage through various physiological obstacles and thus prolong the survival time of dsRNA in the digestive tract, so as to enter the midgut cells of
Locusta migratoria [81]. The SPc can also efficiently deliver dsRNA across the cell membrane and achieve efficient gene silencing
[82]. Compared to naked dsRNA, crucial genes regulating endocytosis and exocytosis are remarkably up-regulated in Sf9 cells treated with a dsRNA/SPc complex
[79].
RNAi-based strategy has great potential in combatting plant diseases and pests
[83][84][85]. Crops can be directly sprayed with dsRNA (spray-induced gene silencing, SIGS) targeting key genes of plant pathogens or pests to induce specific silencing, thus leading to the decline of pest infestation and finally realizing the sustainable eco-friendly pest management
[86][87]. A new formulation was developed with the help of a fluorescent NP. The RNA pesticide rapidly penetrates the insect body wall and effectively inhibits gene expression
[88].
3.3. Application of Co-Delivery System
Firstly,
aour team constructed SPc as a low-cost multifunctional nanocarrier that can co-deliver the dsRNA and pesticide to develop a novel multicomponent nano-pesticide against devastating green peach aphids
[89]. The SPc can self-assemble with botanical pesticide matrine, and then complex with dsRNA to form a nano-sized matrine/SPc/dsRNA complex, which can be efficiently delivered into
Drosophila S2 cells. The dsRNA (ds
hem) targeting immune gene
hemocytin leads to efficient gene silencing and a high mortality rate through SPc-based topical application, and the main lethal mechanism is via the down-regulating hem gene, resulting in severe bacterial infection. In the field trial, the ds
hem/SPc complex exhibits short persistence, and the matrine/SPc complex shows slow-acting property, exposing their defects. Interestingly, both initial acting time and persistence of co-delivery complex are remarkably improved, which overcomes the disadvantages of both agents. The synergistic effect of co-delivery system based on NPs has achieved good performance in pest control. The co-administration of thiamethoxam and dsRNA of
synapsin, both targeting the nervous system, effectively results in the death of melon aphids
[90].
4. Perspectives in Pesticide
The application of NP-based co-delivery systems is mainly divided into synergistic and complementary functions. The co-delivery system, no matter delivering drugs, genes or multiple agents, should be based on solving the bottleneck of pesticide development. Using the synergistic mode of co-delivery system to concentrate on a certain direction, the corresponding drug and nanomaterials can be further reduced and enhanced
[90]. For example, the use of co-delivery of conventional pesticides and their corresponding RNA pesticides targeting resistance-related genes avoids the high cost of developing new pesticides and gives traditional pesticides a new lease of life (unpublished data). On the other hand, complementary action in both aspects can reduce the frequency of pesticide application and the dosage of nanomaterials, which is friendlier to the environment
[89]. To prevent or suppress plant diseases, researchers can develop nanofungicides for plant pathogens; immune inducers and multiple nanofertilizers for plant stress. A variety of insecticides, including chemical or biopesticides and RNA pesticides targeting pests, can be purposefully combined for both above and below ground pests (
Figure 2). Multiple application methods including foliar spraying, irrigation, and trunk injection can also be refined to specific applications
[86][91]. The production costs of NPs and RNA pesticides should be further reduced, and the application of co-delivery system in the field has been preliminarily realized.
Figure 2. Application of co-delivery system is promising in agricultural field. Fabrication of co-delivery nanopesticide system, assembled with insecticides, fungicides or fertilizers, achieves synergistic effects or multiple aspects of drug administration simultaneously.