Israeli company develops technology to pass cannabis through blood-brain barrier
Israeli cannabis company, Nextage Therapeutics, has developed a technology that will allow cannabis molecules to cross the blood-brain barrier.
The blood-brain barrier is a protective barrier between the blood and the brain. While the barrier shields the brain from bacteria and harmful substances in the blood, the barrier also shields the brain from medications - including cannabinoids.
While the blood-brain barrier can be passed with a catheter, the procedure is too risky and invasive for everyday medications. Israeli researchers hope to change that.
Although Nextage has revealed little about its technology, it is believed the technology is based on the nanoscale silicon chip delivery method discovered by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in 2019.
Like the silicon chip delivery method, Nextage’s technology allows cannabis molecules to be delivered directly into the brain. This will reduce the number of side effects patients experience on a range of medications, as the delivery method bypasses other parts of the body.
Long term, it may also reduce the doses of medical cannabis given to patients, as researchers believe direct delivery will increase the bioavailability of the medicine.
While the technology is currently used to transmit cannabinoids across the blood-brain barrier, researchers have succeeded in using the delivery method on other chemicals. However, further research is required before the technology can deliver non-cannabis medications.
Researchers believe their technology will help develop treatments used for illnesses like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, chronic pain, brain cancer, Alzheimer’s, and a range of mental illnesses.
Nextage (NXTG: IT) is a publicly traded cannabis company owned by Micromedic Technologies Ltd. The company is in negotiations to use the technology in the treatment of other brain diseases.
When they aren’t revolutionising medical cannabis, Nextage sells cannabis-infused Pepsi with Temp Beverages Ltd.
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Mike Frigger
Mike is the founder and editor of Cannaus. With over a decade of experience in cannabis journalism, he's an advocate for legalising cannabis and covers much of the cannabis journey in Australia.