journal article·2024-11-12Open access

Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals Encapsulating Cannabigerol: A Step Forward in Controlling Intestinal Inflammatory Disorders

Francisca Casanova, Carla F. Pereira, Alessandra B. Ribeiro, Pedro M. Castro, Eva Martins, Ricardo Freixo, Diana Tavares-Valente, Lígia L. Pimentel, Ana L. Fontes, Luís M. Rodríguez-Alcalá, João C. Fernandes, Manuela E. Pintado, Óscar L. Ramos

Applied Sciences· Volume 14· Issue 22

Abstract

Cannabigerol (CBG) from Cannabis sativa L. is known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, showing potential against intestinal inflammation. However, its lipophilic nature limits its absorption and stability. Researchers have explored cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to deliver lipophilic compounds and enhance their biological outcomes. This study investigated the capability of modified CNC with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to effectively deliver CBG. The encapsulation process’s impact on cytotoxicity, biological activity, and controlled release during digestion was assessed. Results indicated that CNC-CTAB encapsulation significantly reduced CBG’s cytotoxicity on intestinal cells, allowing safer administration of higher doses. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the encapsulated CBG were retained, resulting in a decrease in reactive oxygen species and cytokine levels in intestinal cells. Additionally, the system inhibited the growth of the intestinal pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. The study supports using CNC-CTAB as an efficient delivery system to enhance CBG’s potential against intestinal inflammation. Incorporating this system into food matrices could lead to novel functional foods for managing intestinal inflammation.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls · Polysaccharides Composition and Applications · Microencapsulation and Drying Processes

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

CBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal

Funding

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) · FCT project

References (46)

Show source-provided references
1. Pharmacological Aspects and Biological Effects of Cannabigerol and Its Synthetic Derivatives10.1155/2022/3336516 ↗
2. The Pharmacological Case for Cannabigerol10.1124/jpet.120.000340 ↗
3. Jastrząb, A., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., and Skrzydlewska, E. (2022). The Origin and Biomedical Relevance of Cannabigerol. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23.10.3390/ijms23147929 ↗
4. Cannabigerol: A Bibliometric Overview and Review of Research on an Important Phytocannabinoid10.1007/s11101-021-09794-w ↗
5. Casanova, F., Pereira, C.F., Ribeiro, A.B., Freixo, R., Costa, E., Pintado, M.E., Fernandes, J.C., and Ramos, Ó.L. (2021). Novel Micro- and Nanocellulose-Based Delivery Systems for Liposoluble Compounds. Nanomaterials, 11.10.3390/nano11102593 ↗
6. The Effect of Medium Chain and Long Chain Triglycerides Incorporated in Self-Nano Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems on Oral Absorption of Cannabinoids in Rats10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119201 ↗
7. Investigation of Cannabidiol Gastro Retentive Tablets Based on Regional Absorption of Cannabinoids in Rats10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.05.010 ↗
8. Structural Analysis and Cytotoxicity of Host-Guest Inclusion Complexes of Cannabidiol with Three Native Cyclodextrins10.1016/j.jddst.2019.03.015 ↗
9. Cannabidiol Aqueous Solubility Enhancement: Comparison of Three Amorphous Formulations Strategies Using Different Type of Polymers10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119812 ↗
10. Hydrophobic Kenaf Nanocrystalline Cellulose for the Binding of Curcumin10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.01.036 ↗
11. The Use of Nanocrystalline Cellulose for the Binding and Controlled Release of Drugs
12. The Modified Nanocrystalline Cellulose for Hydrophobic Drug Delivery10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.01.133 ↗
13. Casanova, F., Pereira, C.F., Ribeiro, A.B., Costa, E.M., Freixo, R., Castro, P.M., Fernandes, J.C., Pintado, M., and Ramos, Ó.L. (2023). Design of Innovative Biocompatible Cellulose Nanostructures for the Delivery and Sustained Release of Curcumin. Pharmaceutics, 15.10.3390/pharmaceutics15030981 ↗
14. Luz-Veiga, M., Amorim, M., Pinto-Ribeiro, I., Oliveira, A.L.S., Silva, S., Pimentel, L.L., Rodríguez-Alcalá, L.M., Madureira, R., Pintado, M., and Azevedo-Silva, J. (2023). Cannabidiol and Cannabigerol Exert Antimicrobial Activity without Compromising Skin Microbiota. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 24.10.3390/ijms24032389 ↗
15. (2009). Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices—Part 5: Tests for in Vitro Cytotoxicity (Standard No. ISO 10993-5:2009).
16. Hurdles and Pitfalls in Measuring Antioxidant Efficacy: A Critical Evaluation of ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC Assays10.1016/j.jff.2015.01.043 ↗
17. Enzymatic Soy Protein Hydrolysis: A Tool for Biofunctional Food Ingredient Production10.1016/j.fochx.2019.100006 ↗
18. Costa, E.M., Silva, S., Pereira, C.F., Ribeiro, A.B., Casanova, F., Freixo, R., Pintado, M., and Ramos, Ó.L. (2023). Carboxymethyl Cellulose as a Food Emulsifier: Are Its Days Numbered?. Polymer, 15.10.3390/polym15102408 ↗
19. A Standardised Static in Vitro Digestion Method Suitable for Food-an International Consensus10.1039/C3FO60702J ↗
20. INFOGEST Static in Vitro Simulation of Gastrointestinal Food Digestion10.1038/s41596-018-0119-1 ↗
21. Preliminary Studies of Rosmarinic Acid Microencapsulation with Chitosan and Modified Chitosan for Topical Delivery10.1016/j.powtec.2016.04.014 ↗
22. Klahn, P. (2020). Cannabinoids-Promising Antimicrobial Drugs or Intoxicants with Benefits?. Antibiotics, 9.10.3390/antibiotics9060297 ↗
23. Hygroscopic, Structural, and Thermal Properties of Essential Oil Microparticles of Sweet Orange Added with Cellulose Nanofibrils
24. Spray-Dried Nanofibrillar Cellulose Microparticles for Sustained Drug Release10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.03.031 ↗
25. Colon Carcinogenesis Is Inhibited by the TRPM8 Antagonist Cannabigerol, a Cannabis-Derived Non-Psychotropic Cannabinoid10.1093/carcin/bgu205 ↗
26. Plant Extracts: From Encapsulation to Application10.1080/17425247.2016.1182487 ↗
27. Controlled Release Formulations of Herbicides Based on Micro-Encapsulation
28. Curcumin—From Molecule to Biological Function10.1002/anie.201107724 ↗
29. Di Giacomo, V., Chiavaroli, A., Recinella, L., Orlando, G., Cataldi, A., Rapino, M., Di Valerio, V., Ronci, M., Leone, S., and Brunetti, L. (2020). Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Effects Induced by Cannabidiol and Cannabigerol in Rat CTX-TNA2 Astrocytes and Isolated Cortexes. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 21.10.3390/ijms21103575 ↗
30. CBG, CBD, Δ9-THC, CBN, CBGA, CBDA and Δ9-THCA as Antioxidant Agents and Their Intervention Abilities in Antioxidant Action10.1016/j.fitote.2021.104915 ↗
31. Casanova, F., Pereira, C.F., Ribeiro, A.B., Castro, P.M., Freixo, R., Martins, E., Tavares-Valente, D., Fernandes, J.C., Pintado, M.E., and Ramos, Ó.L. (2023). Biological Potential and Bioaccessibility of Encapsulated Curcumin into Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals. Pharmaceuticals, 16.10.3390/ph16121737 ↗
32. Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors Are Involved in the Protection of RAW264.7 Macrophages Against the Oxidative Stress: An in Vitro Study
33. Neuroprotective Properties of Cannabigerol in Huntington’s Disease: Studies in R6/2 Mice and 3-Nitropropionate-Lesioned Mice10.1007/s13311-014-0304-z ↗
34. Beneficial Effect of the Non-Psychotropic Plant Cannabinoid Cannabigerol on Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Disease10.1016/j.bcp.2013.01.017 ↗
35. Cannabinoid-2 Receptor Limits Inflammation, Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress, and Cell Death in Nephropathy10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.11.022 ↗
36. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor Activation in Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis10.1111/bph.12545 ↗
37. Meng, Q., Cooney, M., Yepuri, N., and Cooney, R.N. (2017). L-Arginine Attenuates Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) Induced Nuclear Factor Kappa-Beta (NF-ΚB) Activation in Caco-2 Cells. PLoS ONE, 12.10.1371/journal.pone.0174441 ↗
38. Increased Production of Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha Interleukin-1 Beta, and Interleukin-6 by Morphologically Normal Intestinal Biopsies from Patients with Crohn’s Disease10.1136/gut.39.5.684 ↗
39. The Distinct Roles of Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in Neuroinflammation: Implications for Translational Research10.1016/j.tips.2009.01.002 ↗
40. A Comparative In Vitro Study of the Neuroprotective Effect Induced by Cannabidiol, Cannabigerol, and Their Respective Acid Forms: Relevance of the 5-HT1A Receptors10.1007/s12640-020-00277-y ↗
41. Uncovering the Hidden Antibiotic Potential of Cannabis10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00419 ↗
42. Aqawi, M., Sionov, R.V., Gallily, R., Friedman, M., and Steinberg, D. (2021). Anti-Bacterial Properties of Cannabigerol Toward Streptococcus Mutans. Front. Microbiol., 12.10.3389/fmicb.2021.656471 ↗
43. Surface Modification and Antimicrobial Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystals10.1002/app.44789 ↗
44. Bucci, A.R., Marcelino, L., Mendes, R.K., and Etchegaray, A. (2018). The Antimicrobial and Antiadhesion Activities of Micellar Solutions of Surfactin, CTAB and CPCl with Terpinen-4-Ol: Applications to Control Oral Pathogens. World J. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 34.10.1007/s11274-018-2472-1 ↗
45. A Role for Campylobacter Jejuni-Induced Enteritis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?10.1152/ajpgi.00193.2009 ↗
46. Zhu, W., Long, J., and Shi, M. (2023). Release Kinetics Model Fitting of Drugs with Different Structures from Viscose Fabric. Materials, 16.10.3390/ma16083282 ↗