Researchers from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute found that consuming CBD via nanoemulsion dramatically improves absorption and stability compared to traditional oral formulations. The findings were published in ACS Omega.
Oral delivery of CBD has long been limited by its poor water solubility and low bioavailability, notes the research team. To address this, they created an oil-in-water nanoemulsion using octenyl succinate anhydride (OSA)-modified starch. The resulting CBD-loaded nanoemulsion (CBD-NE) achieved an exceptionally small and uniform particle size of about 39 nanometers, a 99.8% encapsulation efficiency, and stability that lasted for at least 28 days.
Simulated digestion tests revealed that the bioaccessibility of CBD in the nanoemulsion was significantly higher than unformulated CBD. In cell studies using macrophages, the CBD-NE notably reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), showing marked anti-inflammatory activity.
Researchers conclude the study by stating:
In summary, this study demonstrated that an OSA-S-stabilized nanoemulsion system is highly effective in enhancing the oral bioaccessibility and anti-inflammatory activity of CBD. The formulated CBD-NE exhibited colloidal stability over 28 days of storage and achieved a high EE, supporting its suitability as a delivery vehicle. Notably, the bioaccessibility of CBD in CBD-NE increased substantially after simulated GI digestion, and CBD-NE reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW264.7 cells. These findings suggest that OSA-S-based nanoemulsions may address the solubility and bioavailability limitations of CBD and provide a promising strategy for improving its oral delivery. Although future studies, including in vivo evaluations, are warranted, a straightforward and scalable fabrication method will further enhance the practical value of this approach for future pharmaceutical applications.
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