Poloxamer

The two-part article aimed to investigate poloxamer 407-based microspheres as a novel platform for enhancing and controlling the delivery of atenolol across the oromucosal tissue. In the Part I of the work, atenolol-loaded poloxamers 407 microparticles were prepared by the solvent free spray congealing technology. This approach was feasible upon the high viscosity of the systems allowing for high loaded (20% w/w) non-aggregated microspheres. Several formulations were studied and the results demonstrated that the drug release patterns, solubility data, mucoadhesion to buccal tissue and gelling properties in saliva could be modified by adding different amount of an amphiphilic polymer-lipid excipient (Gelucire(®) 50/13) to poloxamer 407. Particularly, microspheres based only on poloxamer 407 exhibited very high solubility, mucoadhesive strength and gelling behaviour. To assess their potential as matrix for buccal application, the gelling property and the drug release from tablets obta...

A method for the in situ gelation of poloxamers and the mucoadhesive polymer chitosan has been developed by exploiting the tendency of poloxamer solution to form gel at physiological temperatures and of chitosan (CT) to form ionotropic gel structures in the presence of sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Novel poloxamer gels containing CT-TPP complex formed in situ during the administration were prepared by mixing poloxamer-CT and poloxamer-TPP solutions in double syringes. The micellization and gelation of poloxamer 407 in the presence of chitosan and/or TPP were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and tube inversion; both additives were found to reduce the critical micellization temperature and critical gelation temperature of poloxamer aqueous solution. The poloxamer gels containing CT-TPP complex formed in situ were found to exhibit reduced dissolution rate and superior release characteristics with three different drugs--metoprolol, doxycycline and flufenamic acid. Furthermore, by varying the compositions of the two solutions independently, it is possible to control the pH in a way to suit the solubilization of a drug as well as the specific environment of a particular application site. By varying the concentrations of chitosan, TPP and poloxamer, the delivery system can be fine-tuned to afford gels with specific properties, ranging from nanoparticle suspensions to semisolid gels. These in situ gels have the potential to increase the utility of thermo-reversible poloxamers in drug delivery.

In this work, we illustrate the usefulness of cyclodextrins, namely, methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), an amorphous, methylated derivative of the natural β-cyclodextrin (βCD), as a tool to form an inclusion complex with omeprazole (OME), a poorly water soluble drug. Solid binary systems between OME and MβCD were prepared experimentally in a stoichiometry 1:1 by different techniques (physical mixing, kneading, spray-drying and freeze-drying).

Topical drug treatment aims at providing high concentrations of drugs at the site of application so as to avoid adverse systemic effects associated with oral administration. Smart polymers, or stimuli-responsive polymers, are able to respond to a stimulus by showing physical or chemical changes in their behaviour as, for example, the delivery of the drug carried by them. The thermo-responsive nature of Pluronic® F-127 (Basf, Ludwigshafen, Germany) makes it an excellent candidate for the delivery of drugs at various application sites. In recent years, PF-127, and later, Pluronic lecithin organogels (PLO), have attracted particular interest in the design of dermal and transdermal delivery systems with a view to promoting, improving or retarding drug permeation through the skin, bearing in mind that for topical delivery systems, accumulation in the skin with minimal permeation is desired, while for systemic delivery, the opposite behaviour is preferred. In this review, we discuss the p...

The aim of the present study was to enhance the dissolution rate of meloxicam (MLX), a practically water-insoluble drug by preparation of solid dispersion using a hydrophilic polymer, poloxamer 188 (PXM). The kneading technique was used to prepare solid dispersions. A 32 full factorial design approach was used for optimization wherein the drug, polymer ratio (X 1), and the kneading time (X 2) were selected as independent variables and the dissolution efficiency at 60 min (%DE60) and yield percent were selected as the dependent variable. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that for obtaining higher dissolution of MLX from PXM solid dispersions, a high level of X 1 and a high level of X 2 were suitable. The use of a factorial design approach helped in optimization of the preparation and formulation of solid dispersion. The optimized formula was characterized by solubility studies, angle of repose, and contact angle; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction studies, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that enhanced dissolution of MLX from solid dispersion might be due to a decrease in the crystallinity of MLX and PXM. Analysis of dissolution data of optimized formula indicated the best fitting with Korsemeyer–Peppas model and the drug release kinetics as Fickian diffusion. In conclusion, dissolution enhancement of MLX was obtained by preparing its solid dispersion with PXM using kneading technique.

The aim of this study was to apply quality by design (QbD) for pharmaceutical development of felodipine solid mixture (FSM) containing hydrophilic carriers and/or polymeric surfactants, for easier development of controlled-release tablets of felodipine. The material attributes, the process parameters (CPP), and the critical quality attributes of the FSMs were identified. Box–Behnken experimental design was applied to develop space design and determine the control space of FSMs that have maximum solubility, maximum dissolution, and ability to inhibit felodipine crystallization from supersaturated solution. Material attributes and CPP studied were the amount of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC; X 1), amount of polymeric surfactants Inutec®SP1 (X 2), amount of Pluronic®F-127 (X 3) and preparation techniques, physical mixture (PM) or solvent evaporation (SE; X 4). There is no proposed design space formed if the Pluronic® content was below 45.1 mg and if PM is used as the preparation technique. The operating ranges, for robust development of FSM of desired quality, of Pluronic®, Inutec®SP1, HPMC, and preparation technique, are 49–50, 16–23, 83–100 mg, and SE, respectively. The calculated value of f2 was 56.85, indicating that the release profile of the controlled-release (CR) tablet (CR-6) containing the optimized in situ-formed FSM was similar to that of the target release profile. Not only did the ternary mixture of Pluronic®, HPMC with Inutec®SP1 enhance the dissolution rate and inhibit crystallization of felodipine, but also they aided Carbopol®974 in controlling felodipine release from the tablet matrix. It could be concluded that a promising once-daily CR tablets of felodipine was successfully designed using QbD approach.

It is, sometimes, desirable to maintain a constant plasma drug concentration within the therapeutically effective concentration range. The use of high viscosity hydromiscible vehicles such as hydrophilic gels, is one of various approaches for controlled drug delivery, and represents an important area of pharmaceutical research and development. Of these systems, Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) provides the pharmacist with an excellent drug delivery system for a number of routes of administration and is compatible with many different substances. Gels containing penetration enhancers have proven to be especially popular for administering anti-inflammatory medications since they are relatively easy to prepare and very efficacious.

Amphiphilic block copolymers composed of prepoly(sebacic anhydride) and Pluronic-F68/F127 have been synthesized in different molar compositions via melt-polycondensation reaction. Poly(sebacic anhydride-co-PLF68/PLF127) thus formed was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic (NMR) techniques. The amphiphilic block copolymers were used to prepare microspheres and to encapsulate nifedipine (NFD) by the solvent evaporation technique. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to confirm the incorporation of Pluronic into polyanhydrides, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed on the drug-loaded microspheres to investigate the crystalline nature of the drug after encapsulation. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) pictures indicated spherical nature of the microspheres. Microspheres obtained were in the size range of 10-50microm as measured by the laser particle size analyze...

The potential of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) block copolymers Pluronic® F127 (PF127) and Tetronic® 304 (T304), 904 (T904) and 1307 (T1307) as components of solid self-(micro)emulsifying dosage forms, S(M)EDDS, was evaluated. The dependence of the self-associative properties of Tetronics on pH explained the low ability of the micelles to solubilize griseofulvin at acid pH (sevenfold increase) compared to at alkaline pH (12-fold). Blends of polyglycolyzed glycerides (Labrasol, Labrafac CC, and Labrafil M 1944CS) with each copolymer at two different weight ratios (80:20 and 60:40) were prepared, diluted in water, and characterized in terms of globule size, appearance and griseofulvin solubility. The blends with Labrasol led to microemulsions that are able to increase drug solubility up to 30-fold. SMEDD hard gelatine capsules filled with griseofulvin and Labrasol or Labrasol/copolymer 80:20 showed a remarkable increase in drug solubility and dissolution rate, particularly when T904, T1307 or PF127 was present in the blend. This effect was more remarkable when the volume of the dissolution medium was 200 ml (compared to 900 ml), which can be related to a higher stability of the microemulsion when there is a greater concentration of the copolymer and glyceride in the medium.