Harnessing therapeutic deep eutectic solvents in self-emulsifying systems to improve CBD delivery

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Formulation Chemistry

Background:

• Cannabidiol (CBD) is a BCS class II drug with poor solubility, limiting its oral bioavailability.
• Developing stable and effective delivery systems is crucial for enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
• Therapeutic deep eutectic solvents (THEDES) offer a promising approach for improving drug solubility and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare a novel THEDES using CBD and caprylic acid (CA).
• To formulate a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) incorporating the CBD-based THEDES.
• To evaluate the physical stability, gastric protection, and in vitro performance of the developed SEDDS.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of CBD-based THEDES using caprylic acid.
• Confirmation of hydrogen bonding via FT-IR and NMR.
• Formulation of SEDDS with surfactants and co-surfactants.
• Assessment of physical stability using light scattering techniques.
• Evaluation of gastric stability at pH 1.2.
• In vitro Caco-2 cell permeability studies.

Main Results:

• A stable, hydrophobic CBD-THEDES was successfully prepared.
• The CBD-THEDES was effectively incorporated into an SEDDS, forming uniform nano-emulsions.
• The SEDDS demonstrated excellent physical stability under stress conditions.
• The formulation protected CBD from degradation in an acidic environment (pH 1.2) for 2 hours.
• In vitro studies confirmed formulation safety and enhanced CBD permeation through Caco-2 cells.

Conclusions:

• THEDES is a viable strategy for formulating poorly soluble drugs like CBD.
• Lipid-based formulations, such as SEDDS, can effectively incorporate THEDES for improved oral delivery.
• This approach offers a novel and robust method for delivering therapeutic doses of CBD via oral administration.