Development and characterization of electrosprayed cannabidiol micro/nanoparticles with improved solubility and drug release

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound derived from Cannabis sativa. It has attracted significant attention for its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and protective effects on the nervous system. However, its medical use is limited by its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability. In this study, CBD-loaded micro- and nanoparticles for sublingual delivery via electrospray were fabricated and characterized in detail.

Various formulations with hydrophilic polymers and solubilizers were used to improve solubility under optimized electrospray conditions. The physical and chemical properties of the polymer solutions, including viscosity, conductivity, and surface tension were characterized before the fabrication of the particles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the particles were mostly spherical, with average sizes ranging from 1150 to 2300 nm. Solid-state analysis using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that CBD was mainly in an amorphous or molecularly dispersed form within the polymer matrix. The encapsulation efficiencies varied from 76.27% to 98.52%, showing that the electrospray process is effective for incorporating the drug.

The formulations significantly improved the water solubility of CBD, with increases of up to several thousand times compared to the pure drug. In vitro release tests at pH 6.8 showed much better drug release profiles, with some formulations releasing nearly all the drug within 60 min. Additionally, mucoadhesion tests showed strong adhesion forces, indicating that these systems are suitable for sublingual delivery. Overall, electrosprayed micro- and nanoparticle systems improved the solubility, release behavior, and mucoadhesive properties of CBD. The results suggest that CBD-loaded micro- and nanoparticles are a promising approach for enhancing the sublingual delivery and effectiveness of CBD.

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Materials

The Kollidon® 17 PF, Soluplus®, two types of poloxamers Lutrol® F68 and Kolliphor® P 407 (Lutrol® 127) used in the study were obtained from BASF (Germany). Polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP Mw 40000) was obtained from Alfa Aesar. CBD was produced at the Hemp Research Institute of Yozgat Bozok University as part of the project. All other chemicals and solvents used in the studies were of analytical grade and sufficiently pure for analysis.

Ziya Canberk Öztürk, Hatice Seçinti-Klopf, Serdar Tort, Development and characterization of electrosprayed cannabidiol micro/nanoparticles with improved solubility and drug release, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, Volume 123, 2026, 108482, ISSN 1773-2247, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2026.108482.

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