Water-soluble phytocannabinoid formulations

Abstract

Methods and formulations for increasing the water solubility and/or bioavailability of a phytocannabinoid compound is disclosed herein. In one example, a topical formulation includes a water-soluble phytocannabinoid emulsion including a phytocannabinoid oil which includes a phytocannabinoid compound, and a non-ionic surfactant. The weight ratio of phytocannabinoid compound content to non-ionic surfactant can be from 1:10,000 to 1:5.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A topical formulation, comprising a water-soluble phytocannabinoid emulsion including a phytocannabinoid oil which includes a phytocannabinoid compound, and a non-ionic surfactant, wherein the weight ratio of phytocannabinoid compound content to non-ionic surfactant is from 1:10,000 to 1:5. 
     
     
         2 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising water. 
     
     
         3 . The topical formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the topical formulation is a non-alcoholic topical formulation, a non-aprotic solvated topical formulation, or both. 
     
     
         4 . The topical formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the phytocannabinoid is present at a concentration of at least 0.01 mg/ml. 
     
     
         5 . The topical formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the phytocannabinoid is present at a concentration of at least 1 mg/ml. 
     
     
         6 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the phytocannabinoid oil comprises hemp oil. 
     
     
         7 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the topical formulation is devoid of water and the phytocannabinoid compound is present at a concentration of at least 0.1 mg/ml. 
     
     
         8 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the topical formulation is devoid of water and the phytocannabinoid compound is present at a concentration of at least 1 mg/ml. 
     
     
         9 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the topical formulation comprises at least about 10 mg of the phytocannabinoid compound. 
     
     
         10 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises a member selected from group consisting of a non-ionic water soluble mono-, di-, or tri-glyceride; non-ionic water soluble mono- or di-fatty acid ester of polyethyelene glycol; non-ionic water soluble sorbitan fatty acid ester; polyglycolyzed glyceride; non-ionic water soluble triblock copolymers; or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant is a non-ionic water soluble mono-, di-, or tri-glyceride. 
     
     
         12 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the phytocannabinoid emulsion comprises cannabidiol. 
     
     
         13 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the topical formulation is a transdermal formulation. 
     
     
         14 . The topical formulation of  claim 13 , wherein the phytocannabinoid compound is transdermally deliverable to a subject. 
     
     
         15 . The topical formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the topical formulation is in the form of an applicator stick, a solution, a liquid suspension or emulsion, a gel, a cream, an ointments, a paste, a jelly, a paint, a powder, or an aerosol. 
     
     
         16 . The topical formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the water is present at greater than about 50 wt % and the topical formulation, and the topical formulation is clear with no visible particles or micelles to the naked eye. 
     
     
         17 . The topical formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the phytocannabinoid compound is selected from the group consisting of cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabigerivarin (CBGV), esters thereof, salts thereof, metabolites thereof, prodrugs thereof, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A method of preparing the topical formulation of  claim 1 , comprising combining the phytocannabinoid oil with the non-ionic surfactant that is heated to at least 90° F. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising combining the phytocannabinoid oil that has been combined with the non-ionic surfactant with water that is warmed to from 90° F. to 200° F. 
     
     
         20 . A method of delivering a phytocannabinoid compound to a subject, comprising topically administering the topical formulation of  claim 1  to the subject, wherein the phytocannabinoid compound is delivered to the subject with enhanced bioavailability compared to delivery of an undissolved or undispersed form of the phytocannabinoid oil.