Enhancing therapeutic efficacy of cannabidiol through the development of advanced delivery systems

Introduction
Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a promising non-psychoactive pharmacological effect, but it often demonstrates inconsistent efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies, largely due to its poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and physicochemical instability [1].
Materials and methods
By reviewing different formulations as appropriate delivery systems for CBD, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, microcapsules, we have found microencapsulation as simple and economical procedure convenient for our experimental conditions. Microparticles were obtained with protein-based or polysaccharide coating (matrix) loaded with hemp seed oil and CBD using a complex coacervation method and pH-induced protein precipitation.
RESULTS
Our preliminary results indicate that the obtained microcapsules are in the size range ≈ 20-60 µm, characterized by span values ranging from 1.9 to 2.8, indicating moderate to broad distributions depending on the formulation parameters, and initially low zeta potential reflecting their low electrostatic repulsion.
Conclusion
Development of microcapsules as delivery systems is a promising strategy, but this procedure still requires a long optimization process to ensure the appropriate physicochemical characteristics of CBD.