Nanoemulsion development for cannabidiol nose-to-brain delivery

• Grant number: 24/12606-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Priscila Gava Mazzola
• Grantee: Luiza Aparecida Luna Silvério
• Supervisor: Maria Carafa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/11241-8 - Development of transdermal formulations with medical Cannabis for Alzheimer's disease, BP.DR

Abstract

Approximately 1.5 billion people die annually due to central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The primary challenge in treating these disorders is not the lack of potent drugs, but the limitations in current brain drug delivery techniques. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective barrier that protects the CNS but also prevents many drugs from entering the brain. This makes it difficult to deliver therapeutic drugs for conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, brain tumors and strokes. In this scenario, cannabinoids have a broad spectrum of action, being able to prevent neuronal death, reduce oxidative stress and the inflammatory process in the central nervous system. However, cannabinoids have approximately 10% of bioavailability by oral route. In this context, the study of alternative routes of administration is essential to expand the therapeutic arsenal for CNS disorders and bring more quality of life to patients. Nose-to-brain delivery is the simpler and direct way for brain targeting, which avoids bloodstream clearance, and it is known as an effective non-invasive. However, this type of formulation has significant limitations such as the short contact time with the mucosa due to ciliary clearance and the high risk of sensitivity to the formulation's constituents. Therefore, the present project aims to develop, characterize and evaluate the permeation of a nanoemulsion nasal spray with nanobubbles to enhance the bioavailability of CBD as an alternative route for the administration of medical Cannabis.