• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2003

The rheological behavior of poloxamer 407 solution as function of concentration and temperature was evaluated by rotational viscometer. The viscosity of poloxamer 407 solution was increased as the concentration of poloxamer 407 and temperature increased. At $4^{\circ}C$, poloxamer 407 solution showed the Newtonian flow characteristics regardless of concentration. Upon increasing temperature the poloxamer solution changed to the pseudoplastic flow pattern. And at gelation temperature, rheological profiles showed the abrupt increase in viscosity. Gelation temperature was decreased as the concentration of poloxamer 407 increased, while it increased as the concentration of poly(ethylene glycol) 4000 increased. Poly(ethylene glycol) might be expected to reduce the driving force for hydrophobic interaction resulting in slow gelation. From the viscoelastic properties of poloxamer gel system, we obtained the storage and loss modulus depending on the shear stress and frequency. And the sol-gel transition temperature was also obtained from the viscoelastic properties of poloxamer 407 gel.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1171-1178
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• 2006

This study examined the effects of flavors, which are usually added to improve the appeal of pharmaceutical agents, on the viscosity and gelling point of 18% (w/w) aqueous poloxamer 407 solutions. Monoterpenes, esters, alcohols, aldehyde ketones and lactone type flavors were examined. The concentrations of flavor ranged from 0.1 to 1.0%(w/w). After adding a flavor to the aqueous poloxamer 407 solution, the viscosity of the solution was measured using a Brookfield viscometer, and the gelling point was determined from the viscosity vs. temperature plot. The gelling point of the aqueous poloxamer 407 solution decreased with increasing concentration of flavors except for coumarin, vanillin and ethylvanillin. Thermal analysis with DSC showed an interaction between the flavors and poloxamer 407. These results suggest that the flavors bind to the hydrophilic end chains of poloxamer 407, which increases the viscosity, causing gelation at lower temperatures.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.240-243
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• 1994

Release rates of flurbiprofen from transdermal gels made of poloxamer 407 were evaluated using a membraneless diffusion cell in order to study the effects of formulation variables on flurbiprofen release such as poloxamer 407 (17.5-25%) drug (0.1-1.0%), ethanol (10-20%), PG or PEF 300 (5-15%) concentrations and gel pH(3-7). Isopropyl myristate was employed as a receptor medium for the drug released from the gel. The diffusion coefficient of flurbiprofen decreased linearly as the amount of poloxamer 407 and the drug in the gel increased. The release rate of flurbiprofen was gel increased. The The addition of more ethanol in the gel increased the drug release, resulting from the increase of the thermodynamic activity of the drug in the aqueous phase of the gel. However, the concentration effects of PG and PEG 300 on the release rate of flurbiprofen were negligible over the concentration range used.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2002

In order to evaluate the effect of poloxamer 407 content on the dissolution profiles of pellets, diltiazem HCl (DTL) core pellets were prepared with poloxamer 407 (50-90% w/w, with lactose as filler) using an extruder and a spheronizer. Any possible interaction between the drug and excipients was evaluated using DSC, IR and TLC. Dissolution tests were performed using USP basket method. In addition, scanning electron micrograph was performed to examine the surface roughness and cross sections. The release of DTL from the core pellets was decreased with increasing poloxamer 407 content. Cracks appeared on the surface of the core pellets with increasing the poloxamer 407 content, which may play a role on the retardation of the release of DTL from core pellets. There was no any significant interaction between the drug and excipients employed to prepare the core pellets.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.653-658
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• 2003

It has been reported that at low temperature region, poloxamers existed as a monomer. Upon warming, an equilibrium between unimers and micelles was established, and finally micelle aggregates were formed at higher temperature. In this study, the fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the micelle formation of the poloxamer 407 in aqueous solution. The excitation and emission spectra of pyrene, a fluorescence probe, were measured as a function of the concentration of poloxamer 407 and temperature. A blue shift in the emission spectrum and a red shift in the excitation spectrum were observed as pyrene transferred from an aqueous to a hydrophobic micellar environment. From the $I_1/I_3 and I_{339}/I_{333}$ results, critical micelle concentration (cmc) and critical micelle temperature (cmt) were determined. Also, from the fluorescence spectra of the probe molecules such as 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid and 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde, the blue shift of the $\lambda_{max}$ was observed. These results suggest a decrease in the polarity of the microenvironment around probe because of micelle formation. The poloxamer 407 above cmc strongly complexed with hydrophobic fluorescent probes and the binding constant of complex increased with increasing the hydrophobicity of the probe.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.27-32
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• 1994

In order to reduce systemic side effects following oral administration, flurbiprofen was formulated as transdermal gels consisting of the drug, poloxamer 407 and ethanol in buffer solutions. The effect of formulation variables in the preparation of flurbiprofen gels on skin permeation of the drug was evaluated using Keshary-Chien diffusion cells fitted with excised rat skins. The permeation rate of flurbiprofen through rat skin was directly proportional to initial drug concentration (between 0.1% and 1.0%) in the gel while it was inversely proportional to poloxamer 407 concentration (between 17.5% and 25%). The skin permeation of flurbiprofen was substantially influenced by the gel pH between 3 and 7, exhibiting a maximum at pH 4. The concentration effect of ethanol on the permeation of the drug was negligible in the concentration range of $10{\sim}20%$.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 1989

Solid dispersion of fenticonazole nitrate (FN) with poloxamer 407, polyethylene glycol 6000, povidone (K-90) were prepared by the solvent method. To characterize the state of the drug in solid dispersions, the x-ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry were carried out. The identification of these systems suggested that FN in the poloxamer 407 system remained in crystalline state, and the drug in the PVP system was amorphous. A marked increase in the dissolution rate of FN was attained by dispersing the drug in the hydrophilic polymers used, and the dispersion with poloxamer 407 was superior to the other two carriers in releasing the drug into solution.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 1998

Biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) has been used for the treatment of acute and chronic hepatitis. However, its poor solubility in water, $2.5\;{\mu}g/ml$, caused low bioavailability of the drug after its oral administration. In order to increase the dissolution of DDB in gastrointestinal tracts, consequently to increase the bioavailability of the drug, DDB tablet was prepared with solid dispersion of DDB with poloxamer 338 or 407 using a direct compression method. To improve the flowability of the solid dispersion, Aerosil was used as an adsorbent. The effect of formulation variables (poloxamer and Aerosil contents) on the dissolution rate of DDB from tablets was investigated using an analysis of variance. The dissolution rate of DDB from tablets was evaluated with KP II (paddle) method. The dissolution patterns of the drug from the tablet prepared with poloxamer 407 were affected significantly by the contents of poloxamers and Aerosil over the range employed, but those of the drug from the tablet prepared with poloxamer 338 were not. The optimum formulation of the DDB tablet, showed the same dissolution pattern as that of the reference, was obtained after polynomial equations of drug dissolution profiles for each formula were fitted to contour plots. The optimum formulation ratios of DDB:poloxamer 407:Aerosil were 1:2.5:2.5 and 1:5:5.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1998

Extract of Centella asiatica(ECA), which is poorly water-soluble extract from the Centella asiatica is known to express excellent wound healing properties. $ECA-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ $(asiaticoside-{\beta}-cyclodextrin\;and\;genin-{\beta}-cyc1odextrin)$ solid dispersion system, which was prepared by freezedrying method, was formulated as gels containing poloxamer 407 and propylene glycol, and evaluated with respect to their viscosity, stability, skin permeation and drug amount in the skin of hairless mouse. The average molar ratio $asiaticoside-{\beta}-CD$ and $genin-{\beta}-CD$ was 1:1.7 and 1:22, respectively. When the molar ratio of genin and ${\beta}-CD$ was 1:5, madecassic acid made 100% solid dispersion system and asiatic acid about 65%. In dissolution study, >99% of asiaticoside from $asiaticoside-{\beta}-CD$ was dissolved in 5 minutes, and >99% madecassic acid and >64% asiatic acid from $genin-{\beta}-CD$. The apparent viscosity of poloxamer 407 gels with $ECA-{\beta}-CD$ solid dispersion system increased in proportion to poloxamer 407 and propylene glycol concentration. In the accelerated stability test, all $ECA-{\beta}-CD$ poloxamer 407 gels showed that asiaticoside was most stable and madecassic acid stable and asiatic acid similar to stability of gel with free ECA. The permeation amount of asiaticoside in poloxamer gels through hairless mouse skin decreased as the concentration of poloxamer 407 increased. When propylene glycol was added at the level of 10%, the permeation amount of asiaticoside at poloxamer gels through hairless mouse skin increased but from 15% it decreased. The permeation of asiaticoside into the skin of hairless mouse was estimated to be about $0.10\;{\mu}g/cm^2$.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 1996

Sulconazole nitrate(SCN), an imidazole derivative which has been effective in the treatment of dermatophytosis, tinea versicolor and candidiasis, was formulated as a gel containing drug, poloxamer 407, ethanol and propylene glycol. The resulting SCN gels were evaluated with respect to their viscosity, drug release rate, skin permeation rate. The apparent viscosity of SCN gel increased in proportion to poloxamer 407, drug and propylene glycol concentration. In case ethanol was added, the apparent viscosity decreased. The drug release rate of SCN gel increased in proportion to temperature and ethanol concentration. But the drug release rate decreased as the concentration of poloxamer 407 increased. The increase of drug concentration induced nonlinear increase of drug release rate. When propylene glycol was added at the level of 10%, the drug release rate increased but from 15% it decreased. The skin permeation rate decreased in high concentration of poloxamer 407. The skin permeation rate of SCN gel containing 15% ethanol increased about twice than that of gel without ethanol. The increase of drug concentration induced nonlinear increase of skin permeation rate. When propylene glycol was added at the level of 10%, the skin permeation rate increased but from 15% it decreased.