Understanding the transdermal delivery of Cannabidiol (CBD) using penetration enhancers

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a hydrophobic, non-psychoactive, non-hallucinating, non-intoxicating compound isolated from the cannabis plant that exhibits therapeutic benefits in the treatment of epilepsy. Potentially, it can be beneficial for pain relief and treating neurological diseases. Oral and pulmonary routes are popular ways to deliver CBD and exhibit a major challenge due to its limited solubility and first-pass metabolism. To combat this issue, the transdermal mode of administration is an emerging route. This will facilitate better bioavailability and lead to stronger therapeutic effects.

This research aimed to create an efficient transdermal delivery system for administration of CBD. My specific objective was to develop an efficient formulation with penetration enhancers. To analyze the effect of the chemicals on artificial membranes and freshly excised human skin (in ex vivo studies). These experiments were conducted using pure CBD solubilized with various enhancers such as propylene glycol, oleic acid, and ethanol, either used individually or in combination, in different ratios. Franz cell experiment was validated with a reference drug, Lidocaine. The collected experimental samples were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectroscopic techniques. The results showed that using different penetration enhancers in combination can improve skin permeation of CBD in comparison to CBD alone.