Novel cannabinoid release system: Encapsulation of a cannabidiol precursor into γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks

γ-Cyclodextrin-metal-organic frameworks (γ-CD-MOFs) are developed as a new promising and biocompatible material, which shows a great potential for drug delivery system (DDS) applications. γ-CD-MOFs were successfully synthesized using microwave-assisted technique from different potassium sources (KOH, KCl and KNO3). The encapsulation of olivetol (OLV) into these materials was investigated as an innovative model of DDS for cannabinoids. Loading of OLV in γ-CD-MOFs was performed by impregnation and co-crystallization methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) were employed to study the structural properties of γ-CD-MOF samples, showing the typical cubic crystals in case of KOH and trigonal morphologies in case of KCl and KNO3. Olivetol content was determined using UV–Vis spectrophotometry and its interaction with γ-CD-MOFs was investigated by Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis (ATR-FTIR). OLV content was significantly higher when KCl or KNO3 were employed in combination with a co-crystallization method, while the drug encapsulation using KOH and the impregnation method was really poor. For the first time, γ-CD-MOFs loaded with cannabinoids were developed and they could be considered a novel strategy as DDS of these compounds. [Display omitted] •OLV was used as a model compound of cannabidiol for its encapsulation into the CD-MOFs.•The combination of KCl or KNO3 and the co-crystallization lead to OLV loaded CD-MOFs.•Using these K sources CD-MOFs showed a more trigonal form than the typical cubic one.•The neutral pH of the initial solution using KCl or KNO3 explained these trigonal CD-MOFs.•CD-MOFs may be alternative carriers of unstable drugs in an alkaline or acid solution.