New Technology in the CBD World
CBD is a unique phenomenon for many reasons, including its extensive array of biological activities, and the speed with which our understanding of and market for it evolves. Every month, it seems there has been a revolutionary breakthrough in some aspect of how CBD is used by humans. The information on this page will serve as a source for the most pervasive of these changes, so check back often for updates on what’s new in the world of CBD!
Lyotropic CBD: Dosage form of the Future?
Lyotropic liquid crystalline delivery vehicles for CBD are very similar to liposomal structures, with a few key differences. The term lyotropic is used to describe amphiphilic substances having three characteristics.
- Lyotropic vehicles are self-assembling; they don’t require expensive sonication, because their constituents are inherently stable in the form of a liquid crystal.
- Lyotropic vehicles are mesophasic; they exhibit properties of both liquids and solids.
- Lyotropic vehicles are amphiphilic; they have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains; they are soluble in both aqueous and non-aqueous environments.
You can read more about other dosage forms on our Dosage Forms page.
Overview of the Benefits of Lyotropic Delivery
Lyotropic preparations are self-assembling
The most profound difference between lyotropic liquid crystals and liposomes is that liposomes are not self-assembling and require an expensive process known as sonication, in which the mixture is exposed to ultrasound energy which catalyzes the formation of liposomes or micelles.
This process is expensive and complex, making it undesirable for use considering the mediocre performance of its final product. Because lyotropic liquid crystals are by definition self-assembling, they are produced with greater efficiency than liposomal preparations making them a more desirable vehicle for the oral delivery of CBD.
Another key difference is the exclusive use of phospholipid molecules in liposomal preparations, while lyotropic preparations utilize both phospholipid and hydrocarbon mesogen molecules. This property contributes to the self-assembling nature of lyotropic delivery systems, as well as an improved shelf life.
Lyotropic preparations have a much smaller diameter
Finally, the most important difference between liposomal and lyotropic delivery systems is the reduced size of the vehicles themselves. Lyotropic systems are on the order of 15-40 nanometers in diameter, allowing for more efficient delivery of their cargo through the wall of the GI tract. Recall that liposomes and micelles are on the order of 100-1000 nanometers in diameter.
These differences make lyotropic preparations more efficient and desirable than liposomal preparations, but a fourth key difference makes them the superior choice to the popular sublingual products: they achieve this increased bioavailability while being delivered in oral dosage forms. Oils have many drawbacks including difficulty of administration, poor taste, and variable dosage size because the user fills the dropper themselves as opposed to swallowing a pharmaceutically manufactured and consistently-dosed gelcap.
Lyotropic systems are on the order of 15-40 nanometers in diameter, allowing for more efficient delivery of their cargo through the wall of the GI tract. Recall that liposomes and micelles are on the order of 100-1000 nanometers in diameter.
This study demonstrates the effectiveness of lyotropic delivery forms as far back as 2012. This is an established science, and it is already proven useful in the delivery of drugs with which CBD shares many characteristics.
