Dispersing insoluble yolk low-density lipoprotein (LDL) recovered by complexing with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) for the nanoencapsulation of hemp cannabidiol (CBD) through emulsification at neutral pH

Abstract

Insoluble yolk low-density lipoprotein (LDL) recovered by complexing with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was studied as an encapsulation agent for nanoencapsulation formulation at neutral pH. The effect of emulsifier and defatting on the dispersibility of the LDL-CMC complex was investigated. A novel dispersion containing partially defatted LDL, CMC, low quantity of Tween 80 and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) were successfully created and investigated for encapsulating lipophilic terpenes-cannabidiols mixture (TP-CBD) and crystalline CBD. The stability of such system under different environmental stresses was also evaluated. The defatting of LDL played an important role and the combination of Tween 80 and SLS synergistically improved the dispersibility of LDL-CMC complex. Non-defatted and fully defatted LDL did not fully disperse even with the assistance of Tween 80 and SLS (at 2,000 ppm each). Partially defatted LDL (average fat content of 42%) could be fully dispersed, while LDL with 25% fat had lower dispersibility. The 2% LDL (42% fat) dispersed with Tween 80 and SLS at 1,000 ppm each of the emulsifiers was identified as an excellent encapsulation system. TP-CBD and pure crystalline CBD nanoencapsulations were successfully formulated and found to be stable (no phase separation) under ambient condition and after freeze-thawing and heating (10 min at 90 °C), although instrumental measurement of their turbidity and particle size varied. Low viscosity of a carrier oil for pure CBD is preferred and medium chain triglyceride (MCT) resulted in better nanoencapsulations compared to vegetable oils such as high oleic soybean oil. Overall, a novel encapsulation system was developed, and crystalline CBD was successfully encapsulated within the LDL particles.