Ultrasonic velocity and light-scattering studies on the polyoxyethylene—polyoxypropylene copolymer Pluronic F127 in aqueous solution

A clinically relevant formulation for direct administration of nerve specific fluorophores to mitigate iatrogenic nerve injury

Iatrogenic nerve injury significantly affects surgical outcomes. Although intraoperative neuromonitoring is utilized, nerve identification remains challenging and the success of nerve sparing is strongly correlated with surgeon experience levels. Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) offers a potential solution for improved nerve sparing by providing direct visualization of nerve tissue intraoperatively. However, novel probes for FGS face a long regulatory pathway to achieve clinical translation. Herein, we report on the development of a clinically-viable, gel-based formulation that enables direct administration of nerve-specific probes for nerve sparing FGS applications, facilitating clinical translation via the exploratory investigational new drug (eIND) guidance. The developed formulation possesses unique gelling characteristics, allowing it to be easily spread as a liquid followed by rapid gelling for subsequent tissue hold. Optimization of the direct administration protocol with our gel-based formulation enabled a total staining time of 1-2 min for compatibility with surgical procedures and successful clinical translation.

Injectable nanocomposite hydrogels as an emerging platform for biomedical applications: A review

Hydrogels have attracted much attention for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to the similarity of their biomimetic structure to the extracellular matrix of natural living tissues, tunable soft porous microarchitecture, superb biomechanical properties, proper biocompatibility, etc. Injectable hydrogels are an exciting type of hydrogels that can be easily injected into the target sites using needles or catheters in a minimally invasive manner. The more comfortable use, less pain, faster recovery period, lower costs, and fewer side effects make injectable hydrogels more attractive to both patients and clinicians in comparison to non-injectable hydrogels. However, it is difficult to achieve an ideal injectable hydrogel using just a single material (i.e., polymer). This challenge can be overcome by incorporating nanofillers into the polymeric matrix to engineer injectable nanocomposite hydrogels with combined or synergistic properties gained from the constituents. This work aims to critically review injectable nanocomposite hydrogels, their preparation methods, properties, functionalities, and versatile biomedical and pharmaceutical applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and cancer labeling and therapy. The most common natural and synthetic polymers as matrices together with the most popular nanomaterials as reinforcements, including nanoceramics, carbon-based nanostructures, metallic nanomaterials, and various nanosized polymeric materials, are highlighted in this review.

Self-assemblies of pluronic micelles in partitioning of anticancer drugs and effectiveness of this system towards target protein

Micelles formed by pluronic triblock copolymers are known to be a promising class of drug delivery vehicles. Quantitative mechanistic insights into the ability of pluronic micelles to improve the solubility of poorly water soluble drugs, encapsulation and delivery of hydrophilic drugs are not available. The current study evaluated the energetics of encapsulation of chemotherapeutic drugs gemcitabine, cytarabine, and hydroxyurea in pluronic F127 and F68 micelles. In addition, the interactions of the drugs released from pluronic micellar media with serum albumin, which is a major circulatory transport protein, and subsequent conformational changes have also been analyzed with the help of calorimetry and spectroscopy. All the drugs showed improved partitioning in F127 micelles, the extent of which slightly increased with temperature rise. Interestingly, drug–protein binding is enhanced upon delivery from pluronic micelles without affecting the conformational integrity of the protein. This study highlights the role of drug functionalities, hydrophobicity, and steric factors towards their partitioning in pluronic micelles. Such studies are important in understanding physicochemical aspects of drug encapsulation and release, and lead to establishing structure–property–energetics correlations for developing suitable nano-drug delivery vehicles.

Micelles formed by pluronic triblock copolymers are known to be a promising class of drug delivery vehicles.

Sustained-release hydrogels of ivermectin as alternative systems to improve the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease and its cutaneous form manifests as ulcers or nodules, generally in exposed parts of the body. This work aimed to develop ivermectin (IVM) thermosensitive hydrogels as topical formulations to improve cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment. Materials & methods: Hydrogels based on poloxamers 407 and 188 with different concentrations of IVM were prepared and rheologically characterized. The IVM release profiles were obtained and mathematically analyzed using the Lumped model. Results: The formulation containing 1.5% w/w of IVM presented an adequate gelling temperature, an optimal complex viscosity and elastic modulus. Hydrogels allowed to modulate the release of IVM. Conclusion: IVM thermosensitive hydrogels can be considered a valuable alternative to improve the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Thermoresponsive polymers and their biomedical application in tissue engineering - a review

Thermoresponsive polymers hold great potential in the biomedical field, since they enable the fabrication of cell sheets, in situ drug delivery and 3D-printing under physiological conditions. In this review we provide an overview of several thermoresponsive polymers and their application, with focus on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-surfaces for cell sheet engineering. Basic knowledge of important processes like protein adsorption on surfaces and cell adhesion is provided. For different thermoresponsive polymers, namely PNIPAm, Pluronics, elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL), synthesis and basic chemical and physical properties have been described and the mechanism of their thermoresponsive behavior highlighted. Fabrication methods of thermoresponsive surfaces have been discussed, focusing on PNIPAm, and describing several methods in detail. The latter part of this review is dedicated to the application of the thermoresponsive polymers and with regard to cell sheet engineering, the process of temperature-dependent cell sheet detachment is explained. We provide insight into several applications of PNIPAm surfaces in cell sheet engineering. For Pluronics, ELP and PNVCL we show their application in the field of drug delivery and tissue engineering. We conclude, that research of thermoresponsive polymers has made big progress in recent years, especially for PNIPAm since the 1990s. However, manifold research possibilities, e.g. in surface fabrication and 3D-printing and further translational applications are conceivable in near future.

Thermo-sensitive hydrogels for delivering biotherapeutic molecules: A review

To date, a variety of delivery systems based on organic or inorganic materials have been investigated. Among them, hydrogels have become one of the most promising field in drug delivery system due to their unique properties. Temperature-sensitive hydrogels, which gelation at physiological temperature, gift the delivery system with excellent spatial and temporal control, and have a widely application in drug delivery, tissue engineering, imaging, and wound dressing. This review provides a brief overview on the concept and classification of temperature-sensitive hydrogels, and covers the application of temperature-sensitive gel systems in delivery of biotherapeutic molecules.

Evaluation of anti-biofilm and cytotoxic effect of a gel formulation with Pluronic F-127 and silver nanoparticles as a potential treatment for skin wounds

The skin wounds cause serious burden to healthcare systems. The lack of sterility of the innate barrier function of the skin facilitates the development of microbial communities within the wound environment especially in biofilm form. Since biofilm is difficult to eradicate, new treatments have been established, such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties have been studied, nevertheless, their toxic effects are known too. Different concentrations of AgNPs stabilized with a biocompatible and thermo-reversible vehicle as hydrogel Pluronic F-127 were synthesized, those formulations presented interesting thermo-reversibility which could be used to apply on wounds. The formulations (Gel 62.5, 125, and 250 ppm of AgNPs) proposed in this study showed in vitro a total inhibition of clinical strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in planktonic form, as well as, anti-biofilm activity was archived with the formulation of Gel 250 ppm, a total inhibition of biofilm formation with mixed culture was registered in the first 30 min of biofilm growth; even more, the viability of human fibroblasts with all gels formulations was >95%, in contrast to silver sulfadiazine cream 1% which showed the highest cytotoxic effect. PF-127 gel with AgNPs could be a prophylactic treatment for skin wounds, because its activity in critical steps on biofilm formation.

Novel Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogels from Silylated PEGs

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and Pluronic® F-127 (PF127) were silylated with 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane to synthesize PEG-based hydrogels by sol-gel transition of silane. Silanes on different PEG molecules formed covalent bonds by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and condensation. Addition of monosilylated PEG resulted in the incorporation of dangling PEG chains, which increased the swelling ratio of the hydrogels slightly. PEG hydrogels in microspheres were prepared by emulsifying aqueous silylated PEG solution in oil followed by curing. Crosslinked PF127 hydrogels displayed inverse thermosensitivity. The previously swollen PF127 hydrogels shrank immediately at high temperatures (e.g., 6000), but the welling of shrunken hydrogels at low temperature (e.g., 5°C) took much longer. The release of fluorescein from the PF127 hydrogels was dependent on the temperature of the environment. The release of fluorescein from the PF127 hydrogels was faster at 45°C than at 5°C. This was most likely due to shrinking of the hydrogels leading to squeezing of the incorporated fluorescein. The ability of hydrogel formation by simple sol-gel transition of silylated PEG can be used to prepare new drug delivery systems and biomaterials.

Delivery of ziconotide to cerebrospinal fluid via intranasal pathway for the treatment of chronic pain

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the plausibility of delivery of ziconotide to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via intranasal administration. Ziconotide was administered either in the form of solution or Kolliphor P 407 gels (KP 407) intranasally in Sprague-Dawley rats. The effect of incorporation of chitosan in the formulation was also investigated. Time course of drug in the CSF was investigated by collecting CSF from cisterna magna. Pharmacokinetics of ziconotide in CSF following intrathecal and intravenous (i.v.) administration of ziconotide was investigated. Upon intrathecal administration the elimination rate constant of ziconotide in CSF was found to be 1.01±0.34h(-1). The Cmax and Tmax of ziconotide in CSF following intravenous administration were found to be 37.78±6.8ng/mL and ~2h respectively. The time required to attain maximum concentration (Tmax) in CSF was less upon intranasal administration (15min) compared to i.v. administration (120min). Presence of chitosan enhanced the overall bioavailability of ziconotide from intranasal solution and gel formulations. The elimination rate constant of ziconotide in CSF following intranasal and intravenous administration of ziconotide solution was found to be 0.54±0.08h(-1) and 0.42±0.10h(-1) respectively. Whereas, intranasal administration of ziconotide in the form of in situ forming gel lowered the elimination rate significantly. These results suggest that intranasal administration could be a potential noninvasive and patient compliant method of delivering ziconotide to CSF to treat chronic pain.

Hydrogel-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs

Hydrogels are three-dimensional materials that can withstand a great amount of water incorporation while maintaining integrity. This allows hydrogels to be very unique biomedical materials, especially for drug delivery. Much effort has been made to incorporate hydrophilic molecules in hydrogels in the field of drug delivery, while loading of hydrophobic drugs has not been vastly studied. However, in recent years, research has also been conducted on incorporating hydrophobic molecules within hydrogel matrices for achieving a steady release of drugs to treat various ailments. Here, we summarize the types of hydrogels used as drug delivery vehicles, various methods to incorporate hydrophobic molecules in hydrogel matrices, and the potential therapeutic applications of hydrogels in cancer.

Co-micellization behavior in poloxamers: dissipative particle dynamics study

Dissipative particle dynamics simulations are applied to investigate co-micellization behavior for binary mixtures of Poloxamers in dilute aqueous solution. In view of block length similarity/dissimilarity, four representative mixture cases are considered: F127/P123, F127/P105, P123/P84, and F127/L64. With appropriate interaction parameters, the simulations enable us to examine the formation of micelles, their types, size, shape, and composition. In the investigated concentration range, we find that pure and mixed micelles, both ellipsoidal, always coexist for all cases. At similar concentrations, both species form pure micelles of their own together with mixed micelles. In the case of F127/L64, it is found that the L64 chains are involved in the mixed micelles, even when the L64 concentration is below its CMC. The fraction of L64 involved in the mixed micelles is lower as compared to the other systems studied. For all cases, the proportion of mixed micelles can be increased when the two polymer species have similar concentrations. Moreover, shorter chains may prefer to straddle the core and corona in the region of ellipsoidal interface that is closer to the center of mixed micelle.

Complexes of Chlorin e6 with Pluronics and Polyvinylpyrrolidone: Structure and Photodynamic Activity in Cell Culture

Polymeric carriers are extensively used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for increase of efficacy of photosensitizers. Here, we report the influence of nine Pluronic copolymers on phototoxicity of chlorin e6 (Ce6), in particular 5- to 7-fold rise in the phototoxicity caused by hydrophilic Pluronics F127, F108, F68 and F87 and practically no influence on Ce6 of more hydrophobic polymers. The revealed value of 0.2 mg mL(-1) of Pluronic F127 concentration sufficient for half-of-maximal increase of Ce6 photodynamic activity proved to be close to 0.16 mg mL(-1) inherent in well-documented carrier poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The dissociation constants of Ce6 complexes with Pluronic F127 and PVP that were estimated from UV spectra were 0.252 and 0.036 mg mL(-1) , respectively, indicating higher stability of Ce6 complex with PVP. According to the results of (1) H-NMR studies of Ce6 complexes, the porphyrin interacts not only with hydrophobic regions but also with hydrophilic sides of both polymers.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) based thermosensitive injectable hydrogels for biomedical applications

Stimuli triggered polymers provide a variety of applications related with the biomedical fields. Among various stimuli triggered mechanisms, thermoresponsive mechanisms have been extensively investigated, as they are relatively more convenient and effective stimuli for biomedical applications. In a contemporary approach for achieving the sustained action of proteins, peptides and bioactives, injectable depots and implants have always remained the thrust areas of research. In the same series, Poloxamer based thermogelling copolymers have their own limitations regarding biodegradability. Thus, there is a need to have an alternative biomaterial for the formulation of injectable hydrogel, which must remain biocompatible along with safety and efficacy. In the same context, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) based copolymers play a crucial role as a biomedical material for biomedical applications, because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, thermosensitivity and easy controlled characters. This review stresses on the physicochemical property, stability and composition prospects of smart PEG/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) based thermoresponsive injectable hydrogels, recently utilized for biomedical applications. The manuscript also highlights the synthesis scheme and stability characteristics of these copolymers, which will surely help the researchers working in the same area. We have also emphasized the applied use of these smart copolymers along with their formulation problems, which could help in understanding the possible modifications related with these, to overcome their inherent associated limitations.

Injectable and thermoresponsive self-assembled nanocomposite hydrogel for long-term anticancer drug delivery

The purpose of this study is to develop an injectable thermoresponsive hydrogel system that can undergo sol-gel phase transition by the stimulation of body temperature with improved mechanical stability and biocompatibility as a controlled drug delivery carrier for cancer therapy. Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) was introduced into Pluronic F127 as a chain extender to improve the mechanical stability. HDI-Pluronic F127 copolymer was then incorporated with hyaluronic acid to develop a thermoresponsive nanocomposite hydrogel system. The physiochemical properties were characterized. The anticancer drug release profile and effect to inhibit tumor cells growth were analyzed in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that HDI-Pluronic F127/hyaluronic acid thermoresponsive hydrogel could undergo sol-gel transition as temperature increased to 37 °C. The nanocomposite polymer can spontaneously self-assemble into micellar structure with size of 100-200 nm. The release of doxorubicin (DOX) from HDI-PF127/HA composite hydrogel was a zero-order profile and maintained sustained release for over 28 days. The viability of tumor cells and size of tumor significantly decreased with incubation time, indicating the potential to have a therapeutic effect for cancer therapy. The injectable thermoresponsive nanocomposite hydrogel system was biocompatible and degradable and had the slow controlled release property for anticancer drugs with potential applications in the field of drug delivery.

Thermally triggered mucoadhesive in situ gel of loratadine: β-cyclodextrin complex for nasal delivery

The aim of the present study was to increase the solubility of an anti-allergic drug loratadine by making its inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin and to develop it's thermally triggered mucoadhesive in situ nasal gel so as to overcome first-pass effect and consequently enhance its bioavailability. A total of eight formulations were prepared by cold method and optimized by 2(3) full factorial design. Independent variables (concentration of poloxamer 407, concentration of carbopol 934 P, and pure drug or its inclusion complex) were optimized in order to achieve desired gelling temperature with sufficient mucoadhesive strength and maximum permeation across experimental nasal membrane. The design was validated by extra design checkpoint formulation (F9) and Pareto charts were used to help eliminate terms that did not have a statistically significant effect. The response surface plots and possible interactions between independent variables were analyzed using Design Expert Software 8.0.2 (Stat Ease, Inc., USA). Faster drug permeation with zero-order kinetics and target flux was achieved with formulation containing drug: β-cyclodextrin complex rather than those made with free drug. The optimized formulation (F8) with a gelling temperature of 28.6±0.47°C and highest mucoadhesive strength of 7,676.0±0.97 dyn/cm2 displayed 97.74±0.87% cumulative drug permeation at 6 h. It was stable for over 3 months and histological examination revealed no remarkable damage to the nasal tissue.

High-throughput screening of excipients intended to prevent antigen aggregation at air-liquid interface

PURPOSE

The aim was to develop a high-throughput screening method compatible with low protein concentrations, as present in vaccines, in order to evaluate the performance of various excipients in preventing the aggregation at air-liquid interface of an experimental recombinant antigen called Antigen 18A.

METHODS

Aggregation of Antigen 18A was triggered by shaking in a half-filled vial or by air bubbling in a microplate. Size-exclusion chromatography, turbidimetry, Nile Red fluorescence spectroscopy, and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to assess Antigen 18A aggregation. A high-throughput method, based on tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy, was set up to screen excipients for their capability to prevent Antigen 18A aggregation at air-liquid interface.

RESULTS

While a similar aggregation profile was obtained with both stress tests when using size-exclusion chromatography, spectroscopic and turbidimetric methods showed an influence of the stress protocol on the nature of the aggregates. The high-throughput screening revealed that 7 out of 44 excipients significantly prevented Antigen 18A from aggregating. We confirmed the performance of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin, as well as poloxamers 188 and 407, in half-filled shaken vials.

CONCLUSIONS

A high-throughput screening approach can be followed for evaluating the performance of excipients against aggregation of a protein antigen at air-liquid interface.

Interaction between Pluronic F127 and dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) vesicles studied by differential scanning calorimetry

A number of fundamental studies on the interactions between lipid bilayers and (ethylene oxide)-b-(propylene oxide)-b-(ethylene oxide) copolymers (PEO-PPO-PEO, Pluronics) have been carried out recently as model systems for the complex behavior of cell membranes with this class of polymers often employed in pharmaceutical formulations. We report here a study by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the interactions in water between Pluronic F127 (F127), and the cationic vesicles of di-n-octadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB), as a function of concentration of the two components (DODAB 0.1 and 1.0 mM; F127 0.1 to 5.0 mM) and of the sample preparation protocol. The DSC studies follow the critical micellization temperature (cmt ≈ 27 °C at 1.0 mM) of F127 and the gel-liquid crystal transition (T(m) ≈ 45 °C) of the DODAB bilayer and of F127/DODAB mixtures. Upon heating past T(m), vesicle/polymer mixtures undergo an irreversible conversion into mixed DODAB/F127 micelles and/or F127-bearing vesicles, depending on the relative amount of each component, together with, in some cases, residual intact F127 micelles or DODAB vesicles. Sample preparation protocol is shown to have little impact on the composition of mixed systems once they are heated above T(m).

Swelling of ionic and nonionic surfactant micelles by high pressure gases

The influence of different solvent environments on the size, shape, and characteristics of surfactant micelles of Pluronic F127 and CTAB was investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS experiments were undertaken on dilute micellar surfactant solutions of F127 and CTAB that between them were exposed to liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide, liquid propane, ethane, and heptane under various pressures and temperatures. Swelling of the surfactant micelles could be directly related to the solubility of the solvents within the micelles, especially within their cores. Carbon dioxide produced the largest swelling of the Pluronic F127 micelles, compared to propane and ethane, which mirrors the solubility of the gases in the PPO core of the micelles. Conversely, the extent of swelling of the cores of CTAB micelles was greater with propane compared to carbon dioxide, which again relates to the solubility of the solvents in the alkane core of the CTAB micelles.

Thermosetting Gel for the Delivery of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Esters to the Cervix

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy has been proposed as an alternative, cervix-sparing treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). In this context, topical application of 5-ALA to the cervix is beneficial due to the small necessary dose and its minimal side effects. Therefore, lipophilic 5-ALA esters, such as hexylaminolevulinate (HAL), have led to improved local bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Hydrogels have shown to be more appropriate for the local delivery of these derivatives, but due to the limited long-term stability of such formulations at 25 degrees C, the development of an extemporaneously prepared hydrogel targeting CIN can be advantageous. Therefore, a poloxamer 407 thermosetting gel, which is liquid at room temperature and becomes a semi-solid when in contact with the female genital tract, has been evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Rheological evaluation has shown that a 17.0% poloxamer 407 hydrogel with a sol-gel transition at 24.8 +/- 0.6 degrees C was the best formulation for easy application and optimal residence time. Furthermore, similarly to other hydrogels previously tested, such a formulation shows a more complete HAL release in vitro than conventional cream vehicles, and tends to increase porphyrin accumulation in nude mice skin. Finally, in vitro release profiles were correlated to the in vivo results.

Characterization of Micellar Systems by the Use of Acoustic Spectroscopy

Acoustic spectroscopy affords a new and unique way to characterize concentrated suspension and emulsion while avoiding the limitations imposed by dilution, an undesirable step, particularly with highly structured samples. This study sought to illustrate the potentialities of this technique by using it to characterize the self-assembling behaviour of Poloxamer 407 systems (3-25%, w/v), both alone or after the addition of various amounts of hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (5-20%, w/v). Particle size and the microrheological extensional moduli (G' and G'') of the systems were determined from acoustic parameters such as sound attenuation and speed. By monitoring the variation of the particle size and the rheological extensional moduli at increasing temperatures, it was possible to define and outline the Poloxamer 407 transitions and the effect of the HP beta-CD on them. Poloxamer 407 micelle formation due to progressive dehydration occurred within a temperature interval of 15 degrees C (including gelation) and was dependent on poloxamer concentration. Particularly, particle size of the aggregates changed within this interval. Mean diameters were 600 nm at the onset of micelle formation and decreased after the thermogel formation to more or less 75 nm. The presence of HP beta-CD changed the basic self-assembling mechanism of Poloxamer 407 by increasing micelle formation and particularly thermogelation temperatures. The results confirm that acoustic spectroscopy offers a powerful method for characterizing heterogeneous systems, thus indicating its potential for applications in the pharmaceutical field.

In situ gelling stimuli-sensitive block copolymer hydrogels for drug delivery

Stimuli-sensitive block copolymer hydrogels, which are reversible polymer networks formed by physical interactions and exhibit a sol-gel phase-transition in response to external stimuli, have great potential in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, especially in site-specific controlled drug-delivery systems. The drug may be mixed with a polymer solution in vitro and the drug-loaded hydrogel can form in situ after the in vivo administration, such as injection; therefore, stimuli-sensitive block copolymer hydrogels have many advantages, such as simple drug formulation and administration procedures, no organic solvent, site-specificity, a sustained drug release behavior, less systemic toxicity and ability to deliver both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Among the stimuli in the biomedical applications, temperature and pH are the most popular physical and chemical stimuli, respectively. The temperature- and/or pH-sensitive block copolymer hydrogels for biomedical applications have been extensively developed in the past decade. This review focuses on recent development of the preparation and application for drug delivery of the block copolymer hydrogels that respond to temperature, pH or both stimuli, including poly(N-substituted acrylamide)-based block copolymers, poloxamers and their derivatives, poly(ethylene glycol)-polyester block copolymers, polyelectrolyte-based block copolymers and the polyelectrolyte-modified thermo-sensitive block copolymers. In addition, the hydrogels based on other stimuli-sensitive block copolymers are discussed.

Micellization and gelation of mixed copolymers P123 and F127 in aqueous solution

The micellization in dilute aqueous solution of Pluronic copolymers P123 (E21P67E21) and F127 (E98P67E98) and mixtures of the two was investigated using static and dynamic light scattering. Gelation of concentrated solutions of the two copolymers and their mixtures was studied using tube inversion and oscillatory rheometry. The two copolymers comicellized to give micelles with narrow size distributions. Clouding temperatures and critical micelle temperatures decreased as the proportion of P123 in the mixture was increased. Micelle association numbers of the mixed micelles lay between the values found for micelles of P123 and F127 alone, whereas micelle radii passed through maximum values in the range 0-50 wt % P123. As judged by the ratio of the thermodynamic to the hydrodynamic radius, the micelle interaction potential changes gradually from soft to hard as the proportion of P123 in the mixture is increased. Regions of cubic and hexagonal (birefringent) gel were defined for concentrated solutions. The high-temperature boundary of the 30 wt % cubic gel decreased monotonically from 90 to 43 degrees C as the proportion of P123 in the mixture was increased from 0 to 100 wt %, whereas the low-temperature boundary was essentially constant at 15 +/- 3 degrees C. Increasing the proportion of P123 in the mixture at 25 degrees C increased the concentration at which the cubic gel was first formed and decreased the concentration at which the hexagonal gel was first formed.

Effect of hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin on the self-assembling and thermogelation properties of Poloxamer 407

This paper deals with the rheological and thermal characterisation of the self-assembling behaviour of different Poloxamer 407 systems (15-30%, w/v), both alone or after the addition of various amounts of hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (5-20%, w/v). The knowledge of the interactions existing between the two kinds of molecules could allow the development of systems for parenteral administration containing also proteins or peptides drugs. A rheology (temperature sweep and frequency sweep test) study has been performed to characterise the thermogelation process while thermal analysis (nanoDSC) allowed the determination of both micellization and sol/gelation transition processes. These two techniques were also utilised to outline the variation in the critical micelle temperature (cmT) or in the sol/gel temperature (sgT,) of the systems containing also hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HP beta-CD). Both the rheology and thermal analysis showed the presence of interesting interactions between the HP beta-CD and the Poloxamer 407, which cause a shift of both cmT and sgT. The presence of HP beta-CD modified also Poloxamer samples elastic characters and microrheological structure as demonstrated by the G'-G'' mechanical spectra. Rheological and thermal results outlined how these new systems could open the possibility to join the thermogelling behaviour offered by Poloxamer 407 with the well-known stabilization and protection ability of HP beta-CD, which could make possible the formulation of systems for the parenteral delivery of peptides and proteins.

A Calorimetry and Light Scattering Study of the Formation and Shape Transition of Mixed Micelles of EO20PO68EO20 Triblock Copolymer (P123) and Nonionic Surfactant (C12EO6)

The interaction between the nonionic surfactant C12EO6 and the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer EO20PO68EO20 (P123) has been investigated by means of isothermal titration and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as well as static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS). P123 self-assembles in water into spherical micelles at ambient temperatures. At raised temperatures, the DSC data revealed a sphere-to-rod transition of the P123 micelles around 60 degrees C. C12EO6 interacts strongly with P123 micelles in aqueous solution to give mixed micelles with a critical micelle concentration (cmc) well below the cmc for pure C12EO6. The presence of C12EO6 also lowers the critical micelle temperature of P123 so aggregation starts at significantly lower temperatures. A new phenomenon was observed in the P123-C12EO6 system, namely, a well-defined sphere-to-rod transition of the mixed micelles. A visual phase study of mixtures containing 1.00 wt % P123 showed that in a narrow concentration range of C12EO6 both the sphere-to-rod transition and the liquid-liquid phase separation temperature are strongly depressed compared to the pure P123-water system. The hydrodynamic radius of spherical mixed micelles at a C12EO6/P123 molar ratio of 2.2 was estimated from DLS to be 9.1 nm, whereas it is 24.1 nm for the rodlike micelles. Furthermore, the hydrodynamic length of the rods at a molar ratio of 2.2 is in the range of 100 nm. The retarded kinetics of the shape transition was detected in titration calorimetric experiments at 40 degrees C and further studied by using time-resolved DLS and SLS. The rate of growth, which was slow (>2000 s), was found to increase with the total concentration.

Effect of flavors on the viscosity and gelling point of aqueous poloxamer solution

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.

Rupturing polymeric micelles with cyclodextrins

Small-angle neutron scattering has been used to investigate the associative structures formed by triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-polypropylene oxide (PPO)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (also known as Pluronics) and to monitor the structural changes occurring upon complexation with heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (hbeta-CD) over the temperature range from 5 to 70 degrees C. At low temperature, the Pluronics are dispersed as unimers. Close to ambient temperature, the hydrophobicity of PPO causes the aggregation of the polymers into spherical micelles with core sizes between 40 and 50 A and a high inclusion of solvent. The aggregation number increases with temperature as the hydrophobicity of the core is gradually enhanced. hbeta-CD spontaneously forms pseudopolyrotaxanes with the triblock copolymers either when in their unimer form or micellized. The complexation results in an increase in the effective critical micellar concentration. It is suggested that the cyclodextrins thread onto the polymer backbone to localize preferentially on the central PPO block, therefore improving its water solubility. At temperatures where the polymers exist in micellar form, complexation with hbeta-CD gives rise to a complete disruption of the aggregates. These processes are highly temperature-dependent. Above 50 degrees C, the break-up of the aggregates is inhibited, and large-scale aggregation is observed.