Pressure BioSciences' Breakthrough UltraShear Nanoemulsion Processing Could Help Revolutionize The Edible Cannabis Industry

Earlier this month, Pressure BioSciences, Inc. PBIO announced potentially ground-breaking results from a consumer focus group testing a THC oral spray developed using the company’s innovative UltraShear™ Technology nanoemulsification platform. The oral spray boasted strong potency and extremely fast absorption that could put it on track to become a best-in-class cannabis product in terms of speed to effects, stability, and bioavailability.  The THC oral spray tested in this consumer focus group is being developed in partnership with California-based cannabis manufacturer, Crème De Canna.

The news comes on the heels of the company’s December announcement of its first commercial shipment of a CBD oral spray manufactured with the same UltraShear technology. The $75,000 shipment to Safer Medical of Montana is the first of many shipments the company expects to make to distributors of CBD products throughout the U.S. during 2023. In recent press releases, PBIO has stated that CBD products manufactured using its patented UltraShear platform could potentially yield many millions in revenue before the end of its 2023 fiscal year. 

Slow And Inconsistent THC Absorption Remains A Key Challenge for Cannabis Manufacturers

Because cannabinoids, like the well-known THC and CBD, are oil-soluble rather than water-soluble, the human body struggles to absorb them efficiently. As a consequence, much of the active ingredient in edible cannabis products is absorbed slowly, intermittently, or hardly at all. 

In one review of cannabis research, only 4% to 12% of THC was absorbed by the body when taken orally. Not only does that mean that the majority of the THC in an edible ends up getting wasted, but the variation in bioavailability between 4% and 12% is highly significant. A consumer eating the same edible product from the same manufacturer with the same dose might absorb just 4% one day but 12% the next day, leading to very different results. 

This makes it incredibly difficult for manufacturers to achieve precise dosing and effects in their edibles. It also increases production costs since they often need to include more than the minimum effective dose to compensate for the fact that most of the active ingredients won’t be absorbed.

In addition to inefficient and inconsistent cannabinoid absorption, another challenge in the edible cannabis industry is absorption time. It is estimated to take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours from the time a consumer ingests an edible to the time they start to feel its first effects, and then up to four hours to achieve peak effects. 

“Impatient consumers may repeatedly consume their edibles, only to be unhappily overdosed shortly thereafter,” explained PBI’s Director of Sales and Marketing, John Hollister in a statement on the consumer testing results. For patients using cannabis as a treatment for pain, anxiety, or depression, that delayed response also means edible cannabis is often unable to provide the instant relief they need. 

While smoking or vaping comes with a higher bioavailability of around 30% and a faster response time of seconds or minutes, the respiratory health consequences make it a less-than-ideal option, especially for regular use. 

PBI’s UltraShear Nanoemulsion Technology Could Be A Breakthrough In Achieving Precision Dosing for THC, CBD, and Other Products

Consumers in the focus group reported that the first effects could be felt less than 10 minutes after initially using the innovative UltraShear processed THC oral spray, with many reporting noticeable effects within 1-5 minutes. Peak effects were achieved between 15-60 minutes after taking the dose. The results of this initial focus group could be a game-changer for an industry that’s been struggling with the challenges around consistent dosing and effective non-inhalation absorption. 

“This testing has provided dramatic consumer-level validation in the cannabis market for our UltraShear nanoemulsion capabilities and for its expected market-changing impact,” said Mr. Hollister. 

The UltraShear technology used to make the oral spray is PBI’s patented pressure-based platform that’s capable of creating what the company describes as the “best-in-class” nanoemulsions worldwide. In the cannabis nanoemulsion, the oil drops containing the CBD or THC molecules are sheared down to a nanosize so small that they are effectively water-soluble. This makes for a significantly more easily absorbed product that can be more precisely and accurately dosed.

For consumers, that means more immediate and consistent effects every time they use an UltraShear processed oral spray or other mechanisms for ingestion. For manufacturers, that improved bioavailability means smaller amounts of THC or CBD are required to achieve an effective dose since the less active ingredient is getting wasted - thus saving the manufacturer money.

“It provides an easy-to-use, reliable, and healthy alternative dosing format, with nearly immediate onset and a consistent experience associated with inhaling, but without the respiratory health risks associated with smoking and vaping.  It also eliminates the frustrating delayed effects, imprecision, and frequent overdosing associated with edibles,” said Crème De Canna President, Jonathan Kolodinski.

Featured photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels

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