Cannabis-containing spray-dried nanoemulsions for carbonated beverages

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This joint project between the Trant Research lab at the University of Windsor, and Peak Processing Solutions supported by both NSERC and the Ontario Centres of Excellence, looks to up-value the cannabis that is produced in Canada into a consumer-friendly beverage formulation. Canada, because of its first-mover status on cannabis legalization, has an opportunity to take the lead in innovating new solutions to providing medicinal and recreational cannabis products to consumers around the world. Simply growing the plant does not strengthen our economic future as other countries will be able to grow the plant more efficiently, but developing new technology to bring new formulations to market does provide Canada with an innovation edge and long-term strategic advantage. Peak Processing is developing a powdered, dispersible form of cannabis that can easily dissolve in water (cannabinoids themselves are insoluble in water). UWindsor has a proof-of-concept model of this technology, but this project involves applying rigorous statistical experimental methods, known as Design-of-Experiment, for optimizing all the production parameters to generate the best possible product. An ideal powder formulation has uniform-sized particles under 10 µM, does not readily absorb water from the environment keeping it a free-flowing and easy to use powder even on storage and transport, protects the valuable cannabinoids from decomposing when it is stored on a shelf, and gives precisely the same dose of active ingredient when the same amount of material is added to water. This is not currently a product that exists. This partnership has the expertise and facilities to make it a reality. The Trant lab are specialists in microformulation, cannabis science, and statistical experimental design, while Peak Processing is a rapidly emerging leader in the development of reliable, repeatable, consistent cannabis-based products in the food, beverage, and cosmetics industries. The partners anticipate bringing a cannabidiol (CBD)-rich product to market in 2021, providing a useful product for Canadians and consumers around the world who are looking for a simple, palatable form of CBD.