Evidence boundary: Most published delivery studies discussed below evaluated cannabidiol, a molecule derived from hemp, rather than Wild Roots finished products. These studies can explain formulation principles. They do not independently prove Wild Roots product absorption, onset, skin penetration or clinical outcomes.
What nano-hemp means
Nano-hemp is a formulation term for hemp-derived material dispersed into very small structures within a carrier system. The purpose is to improve dispersion, uniformity or release behavior for compounds that do not readily mix with water. Particle size is one design variable. Carrier composition, surface charge, viscosity, physical stability and the route of use also matter.
A smaller measured size is not, by itself, proof of higher bioavailability or a better health outcome. That conclusion requires finished-product testing designed to answer the specific performance question.
Why the skin barrier changes the question
The outer stratum corneum is a highly organized barrier, not an open membrane. Its corneocytes and lipid domains influence which molecules enter, how quickly they move and where they remain. Foundational reviews describe this architecture and the routes available for cutaneous transport.1–4
Topically applied material may travel between cells, through cells or through appendages such as hair follicles. Deposition within skin layers is different from transdermal delivery into systemic circulation. Studies of cannabinoids in human skin, artificial membranes and diffusion cells show that vehicle composition and permeation enhancers can materially change delivery.5–7
What particle-size testing actually measures
Dynamic light scattering, or DLS, is commonly used to estimate the hydrodynamic diameter of dispersed structures in a liquid. It analyzes fluctuations in scattered light caused by Brownian motion. The result describes the moving dispersed structure, including its surrounding solvent layer, rather than the diameter of an isolated hemp molecule.
A useful DLS report should identify the finished product and batch, sample preparation, instrument and method, measurement temperature, replicate count, Z-average, polydispersity index, full distribution and the laboratory and test date. A lone average with no distribution or method detail is incomplete.
| Document | What it can establish | What it cannot establish alone |
|---|---|---|
| Particle-size report | Measured size, distribution and PDI under stated conditions | Human absorption, onset or clinical benefit |
| Certificate of analysis | Identity, potency and listed contaminant results for the tested sample | Particle size, release, stability or bioavailability |
| Stability study | Change over specified timepoints and storage conditions | Clinical performance |
| Finished-product human study | Exposure or outcomes under the study design | Performance of a different formula or batch |
What formulation research supports
Published in vitro and ex vivo work shows that microemulgels, polymeric micelles, lipid nanoparticles and other colloidal systems can change cannabinoid dispersion, release and skin distribution.8–12 These findings provide a scientific rationale for formulation development, but they remain specific to the tested materials, methods and endpoints.
Human-skin permeation studies also reinforce that concentration, formulation and enhancer selection affect measured transport.6, 13 Reviews of cannabinoid delivery through skin reach the same practical conclusion: product design and test conditions must be reported before results can be interpreted or compared.14
How to read Wild Roots testing responsibly
Wild Roots uses nano-hemp to describe a delivery format, not to imply a medical result. A defensible product record links the finished product and lot to the relevant documents, then keeps each document within its proper scope.
- Match the lot. The bottle, certificate of analysis and particle-size report should identify the same finished-product batch.
- Read beyond the headline number. Look for distribution, PDI, replicates and method details.
- Separate potency from delivery. A COA can confirm the reported cannabinoid content of the tested sample, but it does not prove absorption or speed.
- Check stability. Size and potency should be evaluated over time under stated storage conditions.
- Keep literature and product evidence distinct. Published ingredient or carrier studies explain plausibility. Finished-product studies establish finished-product performance.
Read the complete resources
Download the technical white paper or compare particle-size documentation, current ingredients, cost per serving, COA limits and product-by-product specifications in the buyer’s guide.
Research references
The DOI links below resolve to the publisher records. Exact scientific terminology is retained in the citation titles.
- Narangifard A, Wennberg CL, den Hollander L, et al. Molecular Reorganization during the Formation of the Human Skin Barrier Studied In Situ. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2021;141(5):1243-1253.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2020.07.040
- Bouwstra JA, Ponec M. The skin barrier in healthy and diseased state. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes. 2006;1758(12):2080-2095. doi:10.1016/j.bbamem.2006.06.021
- Norlén L. Molecular Organization of the Skin Barrier. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 2023;103:adv13356. doi:10.2340/actadv.v103.13356
- Scheuplein RJ, Blank IH. Permeability of the skin. Physiological Reviews. 1971;51(4):702-747. doi:10.1152/physrev.1971.51.4.702
- Kirk RD, Akanji T, Li H, et al. Evaluations of Skin Permeability of Cannabidiol and Its Topical Formulations by Skin Membrane-Based Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay and Franz Cell Diffusion Assay. Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids. 2022;5(1):129-137. doi:10.1159/000526769
- Junaid MSA, Tijani AO, Puri A, Banga AK. In vitro percutaneous absorption studies of cannabidiol using human skin: Exploring the effect of drug concentration, chemical enhancers, and essential oils. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 2022;616:121540. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121540
- Stinchcomb AL, Valiveti S, Hammell DC, Ramsey DR. Human skin permeation of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and cannabinol. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2004;56(3):291-297. doi:10.1211/0022357022791
- Momekova D, et al. Nanocomposite Cryogel Carriers from 2-Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Network and Cannabidiol-Loaded Polymeric Micelles for Sustained Topical Delivery. Polymers. 2020;12(5):1172. doi:10.3390/polym12051172
- Vanti G, Grifoni L, Bergonzi MC, Antiga E. Development and optimisation of biopharmaceutical properties of a new microemulgel of cannabidiol for locally-acting dermatological delivery. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 2021;607:121036. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121036
- Calienni MN, Scavone MA, Sanguinetti AP, et al. Lipid Nanoparticle Formulations for the Skin Delivery of Cannabidiol. Pharmaceutics. 2024;16(12):1490. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics16121490
- Momekova D, et al. Polysaccharide Cryogels Containing beta-Cyclodextrin for the Delivery of Cannabidiol. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(11):1774. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13111774
- Lapteva M, Faro Barros J, Kalia YN. Cutaneous Delivery and Biodistribution of Cannabidiol in Human Skin after Topical Application of Colloidal Formulations. Pharmaceutics. 2024;16(2):202. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics16020202
- Paudel KS, Hammell DC, Agu RU, Valiveti S, Stinchcomb AL. Cannabidiol bioavailability after nasal and transdermal application: effect of permeation enhancers. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy. 2010;36(9):1088-1097. doi:10.3109/03639041003657295
- Tijani AO, Thakur D, Mishra D, Frempong D, Chukwunyere UI, Puri A. Delivering therapeutic cannabinoids via skin: Current state and future perspectives. Journal of Controlled Release. 2021;334:427-451. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.05.005
- Lodzki M, Godin B, Rakou L, Mechoulam R, Gallily R, Touitou E. Cannabidiol transdermal delivery and anti-inflammatory effect in a murine model. Journal of Controlled Release. 2003;93(3):377-387. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2003.09.001
- Gęgotek A, et al. The Differences in the Proteome Profile of Cannabidiol-Treated Skin Fibroblasts following UVA or UVB Irradiation in 2D and 3D Cell Cultures. Cells. 2019;8(9):995. doi:10.3390/cells8090995
- Lindholst C. Long term stability of cannabis resin and cannabis extracts. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2010;42(3):181-190. doi:10.1080/00450610903258144
Editorial review: Prepared by the Wild Roots Hemp Research and Education Team. External qualified scientific review has not yet been assigned. Last reviewed September 23, 2026.