Featured Publications
Dr. Blair has been featured in many scientific publications
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain
Over the last 2 decades, affirmative diagnoses of osteoarthritis (OA) in the United States have tripled due to increasing rates of obesity and an aging population. Hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) is the major nontetrahydrocannabinol component of cannabis and has been promoted as a potential treatment for a wide variety of disparate inflammatory conditions. Here, we evaluated CBD for its ability to modulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro and in murine models of induced inflammation and further validated the ability of a liposomal formulation to increase bioavailability in mice and in humans. Subsequently, the therapeutic potential of both naked and liposomally encapsulated CBD was explored in a 4-week, randomized placebo-controlled, double-blinded study in a spontaneous canine model of OA. In vitro and in mouse models, CBD significantly attenuated the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α while elevating levels of anti-inflammatory IL-10. In the veterinary study, CBD significantly decreased pain and increased mobility in a dose-dependent fashion among animals with an affirmative diagnosis of OA. Liposomal CBD (20 mg/day) was as effective as the highest dose of nonliposomal CBD (50 mg/day) in improving clinical outcomes. Hematocrit, comprehensive metabolic profile, and clinical chemistry indicated no significant detrimental impact of CBD administration over the 4-week analysis period. This study supports the safety and therapeutic potential of hemp-derived CBD for relieving arthritic pain and suggests follow-up investigations in humans are warranted.
Liposomal Cannabidiol Delivery: A Pilot Study
Although oral cannabidiol (CBD) formulations are increasingly popular, studies show that oral CBD has a much lower bioavailability than inhaled CBD.1 This study was designed to compare the bioavailability of 2 different preparations of oral CBD, with
and without a liposomal delivery system.
Puffin Hemp (http://www.puffinhemp.com) has a patentpending liposome manufacturing technology that is used to prepare CBD products with high bioavailability, using a proprietary CELLg8 delivery system. This natural liposomal preparation is designed to increase the amount of active ingredient that is absorbed into the bloodstream. We have previously published on a similar liposomal delivery system for vitamin C, where increased absorption was observed compared with a nonliposomal product.
Next Generation of Liposomal Delivery for Cannabidiol From a Hemp Extract: A Safety Study
Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Influence on Vitamin C Bioavailability and Capacity to Protect Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury
Intravenous administration of vitamin C has been shown to decrease oxidative stress and, in some instances, improve physiological function in adult humans. Oral vitamin C administration is typically less effective than intravenous, due in part to inferior vitamin C bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral delivery of vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes. On 4 separate randomly ordered occasions, 11 men and women were administered an oral placebo, or 4 g of vitamin C via oral, oral liposomal, or intravenous delivery. The data indicate that oral delivery of 4 g of vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes (1) produces circulating concentrations of vitamin C that are greater than unencapsulated oral but less than intravenous administration and (2) provides protection from ischemia–reperfusion-mediated oxidative stress that is similar to the protection provided by unencapsulated oral and intravenous administrations.
How rouge can impact on-line TOC analyzers
Rouge or colloidal iron oxide that is present in pharmaceutical water system, poses a significant challenge in moving total organic carbon (TOC) from a lab-based release to online release. Rogue deposition can alter online TOC analyzer performance within months of installation by changing cell constants and blocking ultraviolet light of quartz oxidation cells. When UV light is blocked, oxidation of organics to carbon dioxide is inhibited that leads to underreporting of TOC, making oxidation and analysis times longer than the expected time in the water sample. Also, analyzers that use membrane technology to separate carbon dioxide from the sample matrix are at greater risk because of colloidal fouling and reduced carbon dioxide efficiency. Reduced membrane performance can lead to inaccuracy, drift, and instability. Three strategies can help mitigate such effects of rouge. These include dynamic endpoint detection, rouge detection sensors and oxidation cell maintenance kits.
Detection and Quantification of Carboxylic Acid Excursions in Ultrapure Water Using an On-line TOC Analyzer
In a recent paper by Hanson (1), the author described carboxylic acid breakthrough in several high-purity water polish loops at Texas Instrument (TI) fabs in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Hanson was able to trace the source of these organic acids back to the plants feedwater and attributed acid formation to implementation of a new municipal water ozonation system. The carboxylic acids were apparently ozonation by-products that were not destroyed before leaving the water treatment facility. The level of incoming carboxylic acids that lead to the high-purity water breakthrough was not explicitly given, but data indicates concentrations of 200 to 400 parts per billion (ppb) were necessary (1). The levels of carboxylic acid that reached the wafer fab were also not given, but due to the efficiency of the high-purity water plant for removing ionic contamination, we assume levels were ranging between 5 to 20 parts per billion (ppb).
- CBD Treatment For Osteoarthritis in Canines
- Liposomal Cannabidiol Delivery: A Pilot Study
- Next Generation of Liposomal Delivery for Cannabidiol From a Hemp Extract
- Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid
- How rouge can impact on-line TOC analyzers
- Detection and Quantification of Carboxylic Acid Excursions in Ultrapure Water Using an On-line TOC Analyzer
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain
Over the last 2 decades, affirmative diagnoses of osteoarthritis (OA) in the United States have tripled due to increasing rates of obesity and an aging population. Hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) is the major nontetrahydrocannabinol component of cannabis and has been promoted as a potential treatment for a wide variety of disparate inflammatory conditions. Here, we evaluated CBD for its ability to modulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro and in murine models of induced inflammation and further validated the ability of a liposomal formulation to increase bioavailability in mice and in humans. Subsequently, the therapeutic potential of both naked and liposomally encapsulated CBD was explored in a 4-week, randomized placebo-controlled, double-blinded study in a spontaneous canine model of OA. In vitro and in mouse models, CBD significantly attenuated the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α while elevating levels of anti-inflammatory IL-10. In the veterinary study, CBD significantly decreased pain and increased mobility in a dose-dependent fashion among animals with an affirmative diagnosis of OA. Liposomal CBD (20 mg/day) was as effective as the highest dose of nonliposomal CBD (50 mg/day) in improving clinical outcomes. Hematocrit, comprehensive metabolic profile, and clinical chemistry indicated no significant detrimental impact of CBD administration over the 4-week analysis period. This study supports the safety and therapeutic potential of hemp-derived CBD for relieving arthritic pain and suggests follow-up investigations in humans are warranted.
Liposomal Cannabidiol Delivery: A Pilot Study
Although oral cannabidiol (CBD) formulations are increasingly popular, studies show that oral CBD has a much lower bioavailability than inhaled CBD.1 This study was designed to compare the bioavailability of 2 different preparations of oral CBD, with
and without a liposomal delivery system.
Puffin Hemp (http://www.puffinhemp.com) has a patentpending liposome manufacturing technology that is used to prepare CBD products with high bioavailability, using a proprietary CELLg8 delivery system. This natural liposomal preparation is designed to increase the amount of active ingredient that is absorbed into the bloodstream. We have previously published on a similar liposomal delivery system for vitamin C, where increased absorption was observed compared with a nonliposomal product.
Next Generation of Liposomal Delivery for Cannabidiol From a Hemp Extract: A Safety Study
Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Influence on Vitamin C Bioavailability and Capacity to Protect Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury
Intravenous administration of vitamin C has been shown to decrease oxidative stress and, in some instances, improve physiological function in adult humans. Oral vitamin C administration is typically less effective than intravenous, due in part to inferior vitamin C bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral delivery of vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes. On 4 separate randomly ordered occasions, 11 men and women were administered an oral placebo, or 4 g of vitamin C via oral, oral liposomal, or intravenous delivery. The data indicate that oral delivery of 4 g of vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes (1) produces circulating concentrations of vitamin C that are greater than unencapsulated oral but less than intravenous administration and (2) provides protection from ischemia–reperfusion-mediated oxidative stress that is similar to the protection provided by unencapsulated oral and intravenous administrations.
How rouge can impact on-line TOC analyzers
Rouge or colloidal iron oxide that is present in pharmaceutical water system, poses a significant challenge in moving total organic carbon (TOC) from a lab-based release to online release. Rogue deposition can alter online TOC analyzer performance within months of installation by changing cell constants and blocking ultraviolet light of quartz oxidation cells. When UV light is blocked, oxidation of organics to carbon dioxide is inhibited that leads to underreporting of TOC, making oxidation and analysis times longer than the expected time in the water sample. Also, analyzers that use membrane technology to separate carbon dioxide from the sample matrix are at greater risk because of colloidal fouling and reduced carbon dioxide efficiency. Reduced membrane performance can lead to inaccuracy, drift, and instability. Three strategies can help mitigate such effects of rouge. These include dynamic endpoint detection, rouge detection sensors and oxidation cell maintenance kits.
Detection and Quantification of Carboxylic Acid Excursions in Ultrapure Water Using an On-line TOC Analyzer
In a recent paper by Hanson (1), the author described carboxylic acid breakthrough in several high-purity water polish loops at Texas Instrument (TI) fabs in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Hanson was able to trace the source of these organic acids back to the plants feedwater and attributed acid formation to implementation of a new municipal water ozonation system. The carboxylic acids were apparently ozonation by-products that were not destroyed before leaving the water treatment facility. The level of incoming carboxylic acids that lead to the high-purity water breakthrough was not explicitly given, but data indicates concentrations of 200 to 400 parts per billion (ppb) were necessary (1). The levels of carboxylic acid that reached the wafer fab were also not given, but due to the efficiency of the high-purity water plant for removing ionic contamination, we assume levels were ranging between 5 to 20 parts per billion (ppb).
