Release of Flurbiprofen from Poloxamer 407 Gel

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.