Nanoemulsion Delivery Forms

Nanoemulsions are liquid solutions packaged as tinctures, infused beverages, eye drops, topicals (creams, lotions, and balms), or transdermal patches containing nanoparticles. They are designed to circumvent the lengthy process of digestion by the stomach and liver, with the overall goal of improving their bioavailability.

Methods of creating nanoemulsions include sonication (the use of ultrasonic sound) and high-pressure homogenization. Nanoemulsions produce significantly greater overall bioavailability, including faster onset and enhanced potency. This is true not only when nanoemulsions are eaten, but also when they are consumed sublingually or via transdermal patches. Both of these consumption avenues pump cannabinoids directly into one's bloodstream, bypassing the relatively lengthy digestion process of the stomach and liver.

A 2015 study entitled "Nanoemulsion: An Advanced Mode of Drug Delivery System" reported that nanoemulsions "are manufactured for improving the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients," adding that the process involves a "thermodynamically stable isotropic system in which two immiscible liquids are mixed to form a single phase by means of an emulsifying agent.

The improved stability of nanoencapsulated formulations makes them of significant interest to wellness professionals because they can increase the precision of dosing. This is of importance for many conditions and compounds that feature biphasic response curves or other peculiarities that can be exploited by a lack of stability.