Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) function primarily as high-efficiency carriers and absorption enhancers within cannabinoid transdermal patches. Their specific role is to increase the solubility of lipophilic ingredients, such as CBD, enabling them to overcome the skin's natural resistance and successfully enter the bloodstream.
Because cannabinoids are naturally water-resistant (hydrophobic), they struggle to penetrate the skin on their own. MCTs bridge this gap by dissolving the active ingredients and facilitating their transport across the skin barrier, directly improving bioavailability and systemic circulation.
The Core Challenge: Hydrophobicity
The Nature of Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids, including CBD, are lipophilic substances. This means they dissolve in fats and oils but are naturally hydrophobic (water-repelling).
The Skin's Defense Mechanism
Your skin is designed to be a protective barrier. It presents physicochemical obstacles that prevent foreign substances from entering the body.
The Delivery Problem
Without a mechanism to modify their chemical behavior, cannabinoids tend to sit on the surface of the skin rather than passing through it.
How MCTs Facilitate Delivery
Increasing Solubility
MCTs act as a solvent vehicle. They effectively dissolve the cannabinoid isolate or distillate, ensuring the active ingredient is evenly distributed within the patch matrix.
Overcoming Physicochemical Barriers
By encapsulating the cannabinoid in a lipid-based carrier, MCTs help the compound navigate the skin's layers. This allows the formulation to bypass the stratum corneum (the outer layer of skin) more effectively.
Enhancing Bioavailability
The ultimate function of adding MCTs is to ensure the active ingredients reach systemic circulation. By improving the rate and extent of absorption, MCTs ensure the user receives the intended therapeutic effect.
Understanding the Trade-offs
Dependence on Carrier Efficiency
The effectiveness of a transdermal patch is heavily reliant on the quality and ratio of the carrier oil.
The Limits of Absorption
While MCTs significantly enhance delivery, they do not remove the skin barrier entirely. The formulation must still account for the skin's natural limits regarding how much of a substance can be absorbed over a specific timeframe.
Making the Right Choice for Your Formulation
To maximize the efficacy of your transdermal product, consider the following based on your formulation goals:
- If your primary focus is bioavailability: Prioritize the ratio of MCTs to cannabinoids to ensure maximum solubility, preventing the active ingredient from crystallizing or remaining on the skin surface.
- If your primary focus is consistent dosing: Use MCTs to create a homogeneous mixture, ensuring that every square centimeter of the patch contains an equal amount of the active cannabinoid for reliable systemic delivery.
MCTs are not just a filler ingredient; they are the critical vehicle that transforms a topical application into a systemic delivery system.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Role of MCTs in Transdermal Patches | Benefit to Formulation |
|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Acts as a high-efficiency solvent vehicle | Prevents crystallization of lipophilic cannabinoids |
| Skin Penetration | Overcomes the stratum corneum barrier | Facilitates transport through skin layers |
| Bioavailability | Enhances systemic circulation access | Ensures the user receives the intended therapeutic dose |
| Dosing Consistency | Creates a homogeneous lipid mixture | Guarantees uniform distribution of active ingredients |
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References
- Pim Sermsaksasithorn, Nattiya Hirankarn. Efficacy and Safety of Cannabis Transdermal Patch for Alleviating Psoriasis Symptoms: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (CanPatch).. DOI: 10.1159/000539492
This article is also based on technical information from Enokon Knowledge Base .
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