Cannabinoid formulations
The present invention provides stable, fast-acting liposomal and micelle formulations of cannabinoids that are suitable for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
1. A method of producing a suspension of particles of one or more cannabinoids in aqueous media consisting of the steps of:
(a) dissolving one or more cannabinoids in ethanol to obtain an ethanol cannabinoid solution;
(b) injecting the ethanol cannabinoid solution into distilled water; and
(c) removing the ethanol from the composition from step (b), thereby producing a suspension of particles of one or more cannabinoids in aqueous media;
(d) optionally adding stabilizer after the ethanol has been removed;
wherein the particles of one or more cannabinoids show no aqueous core under oil immersion microscopy.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the average particle diameter in the aqueous cannabinoid suspension is in a range between 50 and 1000 nm, and wherein the concentration of cannabinoids in the aqueous cannabinoid suspension is from about 1.0 g/liter to about 2 g/liter.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cannabinoids are selected from the group consisting of natural compounds, synthetic compounds, semi-synthetic compounds, and mixtures thereof.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more cannabinoids are selected from the group consisting of cannabinol, cannabidiol, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, levonatradol, Δ11-tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabivarin, dronabinol, amandamide, nabilone, and combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer is present and is guar gum.
6. A method of producing a suspension of particles of one or more cannabinoids in aqueous media consisting of the steps of:
(a) providing plant material from a cannabis plant;
(b) subjecting the plant material from step (a) to supercritical fluid extraction to obtain an extract of cannabinoids;
(c) dissolving the extract of step (b) in ethanol to obtain an ethanol cannabinoid solution;
(d) injecting the ethanol cannabinoid solution into distilled water; and
(e) removing the ethanol from the composition from step (d), thereby producing a suspension of particles of one or more cannabinoids in aqueous media;
(f) optionally adding stabilizer after the ethanol has been removed;
wherein the particles of one or more cannabinoids show no aqueous core under oil immersion microscopy.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the average particle diameter in the aqueous cannabinoid suspension is in a range between 50 and 1000 nm, and wherein the concentration of cannabinoids in the aqueous cannabinoid suspension is from about 1.0 g/liter to about 2 g/liter.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the stabilizer is present and is guar gum.