# Tiny Lipid Balls for Precise, Better-Absorbed Cannabinoid Medicine > This patent describes a drug delivery system using tiny lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate cannabinoids, making them easier for the body to absorb and allowing for precise, smaller doses. - **Patent:** US 20220304938 - **Original title:** Lipid nanoparticle compositions and methods as carriers of cannabinoids in standardized precision-metered dosage forms - **Owner:** Nanosphere Health Sciences - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, healthcare, materials ## What it does This patent describes a drug delivery system that uses very small structures called nanoparticles to deliver medicine. Each nanoparticle has a single outer layer of essential phospholipids that surrounds liquid lipids and the drug, which in this case are cannabinoids (Claim 1). These nanoparticles are specifically sized, ranging from 50 to 150 nanometers (Claim 1), and are designed to provide a consistent, accurate dose of the drug. The system increases how much of the drug the body absorbs, called bioavailability, by 2 to 8 times compared to non-encapsulated forms (Claim 9). This means a patient can take 2 to 8 times less medicine to get the same effect, potentially reducing side effects (Claim 10, Claim 11). For example, a sublingual (under the tongue) cannabinoid product using these nanoparticles could deliver a precise, effective dose with fewer adverse reactions. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover nanoparticle structures that contain surfactants, as specified in claim 3. - Does not cover drug delivery systems where the phospholipid content is outside the 5-30% weight/volume range (claim 1). - Does not cover nanoparticle structures with a particle size distribution outside the 50 to 150 nm range (claim 1). - Does not cover systems where the drug is not encapsulated within a single layer of essential phospholipids (claim 1). - Does not cover drug delivery systems that do not achieve a 2-fold to 8-fold increase in bioavailability or decrease in dose (claims 9 and 10). ## The clever bit The clever bit is creating a stable, precisely sized lipid nanoparticle (50-150 nm) using a single layer of essential phospholipids to encapsulate liquid lipids and the drug, specifically *without* using surfactants (Claim 3). This unique structure dramatically increases drug bioavailability and reduces the required dose, while also mitigating adverse effects. ## Real-world examples 1. Sublingual cannabinoid drops 2. Buccal cannabinoid sprays 3. Topical cannabinoid creams or patches 4. Nasal cannabinoid formulations 5. Oral cannabinoid capsules ## Why it matters Cannabinoids are often difficult for the body to absorb efficiently, leading to inconsistent effects and the need for larger doses. This patent offers a solution by creating a highly effective delivery method that significantly boosts absorption and allows for smaller, more precise dosing. This could lead to more reliable, safer, and more effective cannabinoid-based medicines, making them more predictable for therapeutic use. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Tiny Lipid Balls for Precise, Better-Absorbed Cannabinoid Medicine cover? This patent describes a drug delivery system using tiny lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate cannabinoids, making them easier for the body to absorb and allowing for precise, smaller doses. ### Who owns patent US 20220304938? This patent is owned by Nanosphere Health Sciences. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on June 16, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? Cannabinoids are often difficult for the body to absorb efficiently, leading to inconsistent effects and the need for larger doses. This patent offers a solution by creating a highly effective delivery method that significantly boosts absorption and allows for smaller, more precise dosing. This could lead to more reliable, safer, and more effective cannabinoid-based medicines, making them more predictable for therapeutic use. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover nanoparticle structures that contain surfactants, as specified in claim 3. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20220304938/lipid-nanoparticle-compositions-and-methods-as-carriers-of-cannabinoids-in-stand **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20220304938 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Build Tiny Lipid Capsules to Deliver Genetic Medicines](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10155945/method-of-producing-lipid-nanoparticles-for-drug-delivery) — A precise method for creating small, stable lipid bubbles that safely carry genetic material like siRNA into cells for medical treatment. - [How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4235871/hepatitis-b-vaccine-recombivax) — This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured. - [Using Yeast Cell Walls to Deliver Genetic Medicine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8580275/car-t-cell-therapy) — A method for using hollowed-out yeast cell walls as tiny transport containers to deliver genetic payloads like DNA or RNA into cells. - [Delivering Large Gene Editing Tools into Cells with Hybrid Virus-Lipid Packages](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12350368/delivery-of-large-payloads) — This patent describes a sophisticated delivery system that combines parts of a virus with a fat bubble (liposome) to efficiently transport large molecules, like CRISPR gene-editing components, into specific cells. - [Using Cannabinoids to Protect the Brain from Oxidative Stress](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6630507/cannabinoids-as-antioxidants-and-neuroprotectants) — A government-owned patent describing how certain non-psychoactive cannabinoids can act as antioxidants to protect brain cells from damage caused by strokes, trauma, or diseases like Alzheimer's.