# Cannabidiol Encapsulation in Polymeric Hydrogels and Its Controlled Release: A Review

## TL;DR

This review explores how polymeric hydrogels can encapsulate CBD to improve its stability and controlled release for therapeutic use.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of CBD encapsulation techniques and polymeric systems for controlled delivery.

## Key findings

- Polymeric encapsulation enhances CBD stability and bioavailability by protecting it from environmental degradation.
- Various encapsulation methods like emulsion solvent evaporation and electrospinning are effective for CBD delivery.
- Challenges remain in scaling up production and ensuring regulatory compliance for CBD-based therapies.

## Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) and its derivatives show interesting therapeutic potential, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties; however, their clinical translation remains a complex task due to physicochemical restrictions such as low water solubility, high lipophilicity, and instability under light, oxygen, and high temperatures. Polymeric encapsulation has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these challenges, offering protection against environmental degradation, improved bioavailability, and controlled release. Natural and synthetic polymers, both biocompatible and biodegradable, provide versatile matrices for CBD delivery, enabling nanoparticle formation, targeted transport, and enhanced pharmacokinetics. This review highlights the structural characteristics of CBD, its interaction mechanisms with polymeric matrices such as hydrogels, electrospun nanofibers, biodegradable microparticles, thin films, and lipid-polymer hybrid systems, and the principal encapsulation techniques, such as emulsion solvent evaporation, electrospinning, and supercritical fluid technologies, that facilitate stability and scalability. Furthermore, material characterization approaches, including microscopy, thermal, and degradation analyses, are discussed as tools for optimizing encapsulation systems. While notable advances have been made, key challenges remain in achieving reproducible large-scale production, ensuring regulatory compliance, and designing smart polymeric carriers personalized for specific therapeutic contexts. By addressing these gaps, polymer-based encapsulation may unlock new opportunities for CBD in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and therapeutic applications, providing a guide for future innovation and translation into effective patient-centered products.