How Biodegradable Polymers Can be Effective Drug Delivery Systems for Cannabinoids?

This review [1] describes the multipurpose application of cannabinoids (THC and CBD) in medicine. This includes pain management, treatment of neurological disorders, anxiety, sleep disorders, and cancer and dermatological use. Both THC and CBD are highly lipophilic; have low solubility and bioavailability. This review paper gives an overview on the application of natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers as drug delivery systems without mentioning cyclodextrins. As natural polymers cellulose, algynate and chitosan and as synthetic polymers polylactide (PLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), polyglycolide (PGA) or lactide (LA), ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and glycolide copolymers are discussed through several examples.

A more comprehensive review on the “Nanoformulations as a strategy to overcome the delivery limitations of cannabinoids” by Reddy et al. covers not only polymeric nanoparticles, but also lipid nanocapsules, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems, ethosomes and cyclodextrins. [2] Among CDs the natural CDs, HPBCD, RAMEB, DIMEB and bridged CDs (dimers) have been investigated in preclinical studies only.

References:
[1] Sobieraj J, Strzelecka K, Sobczak M, Oledzka E. (2024) How Biodegradable Polymers Can be Effective Drug Delivery Systems for Cannabinoids? Prospectives and Challenges. Int J Nanomedicine 9:4607-4649
https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S458907

[2] T. Srinivasa Reddy, Roby Zomer, Nitin Mantri (2023) Nanoformulations as a strategy to overcome the delivery limitations of cannabinoids. Phytotherapy Research 37, 1526-1538. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7742