Study Finds Silver Nanoparticles Can Trigger THC and CBD Production in Cannabis Cell Cultures
- Silver nanoparticles produced using the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica can stimulate cannabis callus cultures to produce measurable amounts of THC (0.31%) and CBD (0.26%), despite these undifferentiated cells normally lacking cannabinoid production.
- The nanoparticles act as signaling triggers causing a metabolic shift that activates genes (THCAS and CBDAS) involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis within the cannabis cell cultures.
- This is the first study demonstrating biogenic silver nanoparticles' effectiveness in inducing cannabinoid production in cannabis callus cultures, suggesting potential for controlled, year-round cannabinoid production without mature plants.
- Although promising, the cannabinoid levels achieved are significantly lower than those found in commercial cannabis flowers, indicating further research is needed before this method can be viable for large-scale production.
Researchers have found that silver nanoparticles can trigger cannabis cell cultures to produce measurable amounts of THC and CBD, potentially offering a new approach to cannabinoid production without relying on mature flowering plants.
The study, published August 30 in BMC Biotechnology, examined cannabis callus cultures, masses of undifferentiated plant cells grown under laboratory conditions.
Cannabinoids such as THC and CBD are normally produced primarily in specialized glandular trichomes found on mature cannabis flowers. Because callus tissue lacks those structures, researchers have long faced difficulties getting the cells to produce meaningful amounts of cannabinoids.
Researchers treated the cannabis callus cultures with biogenic silver nanoparticles produced using the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. Untreated control cultures had no detectable THC or CBD.
That changed when the cultures were exposed to the nanoparticles.
At a concentration of 20 milligrams per liter, researchers detected THC concentrations of 0.31% and CBD concentrations of 0.26%. Genetic testing also found increased activity of THCAS and CBDAS, two genes involved in the biosynthesis of THC and CBD.
The researchers said the nanoparticles appear to act as signaling triggers that cause a significant metabolic shift in the cannabis cells, activating cannabinoid production that otherwise was not detectable.
“This is the first report demonstrating the effectiveness of biogenic AgNPs in inducing cannabinoid biosynthesis in C. sativa L. callus cultures,” the researchers concluded.
The findings could eventually have implications for producing cannabinoids through controlled cell-culture systems rather than conventional cultivation. Such systems could potentially operate year-round while requiring less land and being less vulnerable to pests, diseases and changing environmental conditions.
However, the cannabinoid concentrations produced in the experiment remain far below those typically found in commercial cannabis flower, meaning additional research would be needed before the method could become a practical alternative for large-scale production.
Researchers said the findings demonstrate the potential of silver nanoparticles as a tool for stimulating cannabinoid biosynthesis and developing cannabis cell cultures as controlled production systems for plant-derived compounds.