Cannabis Extract Purification for Medical Cannabinoid Formulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extraction methods for Cannabis do not provide effective and safe formulations with specific active compounds for medical uses, and current methods fail to deliver desired ingredients for conditions such as chronic pain, paralysis, neuropathy, Crohn's Disease, IBS, glaucoma, PTSD, anxiety, seizures, epilepsy, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.
Innovation Solution
Development of Cannabis extracts comprising a mixture of at least 95% total cannabinoids and terpenes/flavonoids, formulated with specific cannabinoid ratios and pH levels, using methods like hydrocarbon extraction and winterization, and administered through oral, sublingual, or topical routes, along with Cannabis juice for symptom relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional extraction methods are used, then extraction process is simple, but the extract does not provide effective and safe formulations with specific active compounds for medical uses
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into multiple sequential steps: initial extraction to obtain crude extract, winterization to remove waxes and lipids, filtration through activated charcoal to remove impurities, and concentration to obtain the final purified extract. Each step targets specific contaminants while preserving desired cannabinoids and terpenes, thereby achieving reliable medical-grade formulations through systematic process segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
Winterization uses cold temperatures as an intermediary to selectively precipitate waxes and lipids from the extract. Activated charcoal serves as a mediator that adsorbs specific impurities while allowing desired compounds to pass through. These intermediary substances enable selective purification without directly reacting with the target cannabinoids.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional extraction methods are used, then extraction procedure is straightforward, but the desired active ingredients for particular medical purposes are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process utilizes controlled temperature changes throughout: initial extraction at elevated temperatures to maximize compound solubility, followed by winterization at sub-zero temperatures to precipitate unwanted waxes and lipids. The activated charcoal filtration is performed at controlled temperatures to optimize adsorption. These parameter changes enable precise control over which compounds are extracted and which are removed, achieving high manufacturing precision for specific active ingredients.
3Reliability
If extraction aims to provide high concentration of specific cannabinoids, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but the extraction process becomes more complex and less safe
Solution Approach 1:
The process systematically extracts and removes harmful substances at different stages: winterization extracts and removes waxes and lipids that could cause instability or adverse effects, activated charcoal filtration removes residual solvents, pesticides, and other contaminants. By taking out these harmful factors through dedicated extraction steps, the final extract achieves high therapeutic effectiveness with improved safety profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction process incorporates safety measures in advance: using food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade solvents that can be completely removed, performing activated charcoal filtration to catch any residual contaminants before the extract is finalized, and conducting quality testing throughout the process. These beforehand cushioning measures prevent harmful substances from reaching the final product, ensuring safety while maintaining high cannabinoid concentration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The extracts provide effective relief for conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, seizures, and cancer by selectively targeting cannabinoid receptors, offering safer and more potent medical treatments.
Implementation Method 1
extracting the cannabinoids from the plant material to produce a first extract
Implementation Method 2
winterizing and purging the winterized extract
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the extraction of pharmaceutically active components from plant materials, and more particularly to the preparation of a botanical drug substance (BDS) for incorporation in to a medicament. It also relates to a BDS, for use in pharmaceutical formulations. In particular it relates to BDS comprising cannabinoids obtained by extraction from Cannabis.