Cannabidiol is an cannabinoid that is cyclohexene which is substituted by a methyl group at position 1, a 2,6-dihydroxy-4-pentylphenyl group at position 3, and a prop-1-en-2-yl group at position 4. Cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis species, which is devoid of psychoactive activity, does not have psychophysiological activity and is applied in analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, and chemopreventive activities.
CBD interact with our bodies in a variety of ways. One of the main ways they impact us is by mimicking and augmenting the effects of the compounds in our bodies called “endogenous cannabinoids” -“endocannabinoid system”.
The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating a broad range of physiological processes that affect our everyday experience – our mood, our energy level, our intestinal fortitude, immune activity, blood pressure, bone density, glucose metabolism, how we experience pain, stress, hunger, and more.
Cutting-edge science has shown that the endocannabinoid system is dysregulated in nearly all pathological conditions. Thus, it stands to reason that “modulating endocannabinoid system activity may have therapeutic potential in almost all diseases affecting humans,” Pal Pacher and George Kunos (NIH),2014.
The Need for Nanotechnology in CBD Products
As you may know, one of the cruxes of CBD products, as well as cannabis products as a whole, istheir low level of bioavailability, meaning the low amount of their contents and respective coveted properties which our bodies can absorb by themselves without external help.
In fact, the implications of this low bioavailability of CBD products are much larger than you might think. For example, studies have found that oral consumption of CBD gets your body between just 4% and 20% of the compound (1), sublingual consumption – between 12% and 35% (2), and vaporized consumption – between 34% and 46%, but it could go as high as 56%. The only consumption method that would give you the full 100% is intravenous administration, meaning direct injection into the bloodstream though needles in the veins, which isn’t very popular for obvious reasons.
CBD has high activity in the body but low bioavailability. CBD has high lipophilicity and low stability (degradation via the effects of temperature, light and auto-oxidation can occur). Pure CBD is insoluble in water and not readily absorbed into the bloodstream. Besides that, many hemp-derived CBD oil products are mislabeled as to cannabidiol and THC content. And poorly processed CBD oil may be tainted with toxic solvent residues, pesticides, corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, and other contaminants. Therefore, the application of CBD to products faces many difficult challenges
