PLGA nanocapsules of cannabinoids: characterization, loading capacity and gastro-intestinal bioavailability

AITOR VILLATE URIBE; GASTÓN BARRETO; MARKEL SAN NICOLÁS ORUETXEBARRIA; OIER AIZPURUA OLAIZOLA; MAITANE OLIVARES ZABALANDIKOETXEA; ARESATZ USOBIAGA EPELDE

International Journal on Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids

www.karger.com/MCA

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2022 vol. 5 p. 178 - 178

Nanoencapsulation of cannabinoids via poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PGLA) seems a promising option to improve their bioavailability when administered orally while provides a controlled release. 36 different formulations of PLGA-cannabis capsules were synthetized using 3 cannabis phenotypes (CBD rich, THC rich and CBD/THC leveled), 3 cannabis extract/PLGA ratios (10 mg, 30 mg and 60 mg of cannabis extract per 100 mg of PLGA) and 4 coatings (no coating, pectin coating,alginate coating and chitosan coating). In order to assess the suitability of nanocapsules they were fully characterized (particle size, z-potential and scanning electron microscope (SEM) image), thecannabinoid load was measured (concentration of 14 cannabinoids) and gastrointestinal digestion was in-vitro simulated. Adequate nanocapsules were synthetized based on the measured parameters regardless of phenotypes and loading quantities.