• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.91-94
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• 2004

To develop a poloxamer-based solid suppository with poloxamer mixtures, the melting points of various formulations composed of P 124 and P 188 were investigated. To investigate the effect of poloxamer to the dissolution ad dissolution mechanism of diclofenac sodium from the suppository the dissolution of diclofenac sodium delivered by the poloxamer-based suppository was performed. Furthermore, to investigate the mucoadhesive property of the poloxamer-based sold suppository, the identification test in the rectum was carried out after its rectal administration in rats. The poloxamer mixtures composed of P 124 and P 188 were homogeneous. Ver small amounts of P 188 affected the melting points of poloxamer mixtures. In particular, the poloxamer mixture [P 124/P 188 (97/3%)] with the melting point of about $32^{\circ}C$ was a sold for at room temperature and instantly melted at physiological temperature. Furthermore, very small amounts of P 188 in the poloxamer-based suppository hardly affected the dissolution rates of diclofenac sodium from the suppository. Dissolution mechanism analysis showed the dissolution of diclofenac sodium was proportional to the time. At 4 h after administration, the blue colo of poloxamer-based suppository [diclofenac sodium/poloxamer mixture (2.5/97.5%)] with the P 124/ P 188 ratio of (97/3%) and blue lake in the rectum was faded. However, the position of suppository in the rectum did not significantly change with time. Thus, it retained in thε rectum for at least 4 h. Our results indicated that the poloxamer-based sold suppository with P 124 and P 188 would be a candidate of rectal dosage form for diclofenac sodium.

• 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.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.57-60
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• 2003

To enhance the solubility of poorly water-soluble ibuprofen with poloxamer and menthol, the effects of menthol and poloxamer 188 on the aqueous solubility of ibuprofen were investigated. In the absence and presence of additives such as ethanol and poloxamer 188, the solubility of ibuprofen increased until the ratio of menthol to ibuprofen increased from 0:10 to 4:6 followed by an abrupt decrease in solubility above the ratio of 4:6, indicating that 4 parts of ibuprofen formed eutetic mixture with 6 parts of menthol. In the presence of poloxamer, the solutions with the same ratio showed abrupt increase in the solubility of ibuprofen. Furthermore, in the presence of poloxamer, the solution with ratio of 4:6 showed more than 2.5- and 6-fold increase in the solubility of ibuprofen compared with that without additives and that without menthol, respectively. The solution with menthol/ibuprofen ratio of 1:9 and higher than 15% poloxamer 188 showed the maximum solubility of ibuprofen, 1.2 mg/ml. Thus, menthol gave the greatly enhanced solubility of ibuprofen with poloxamer 188.

• 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.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.289-293
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• 2008

To develop a poloxamer-based solid suppository with poloxamer and polyethylene glycol mixtures, the melting point of various formulations composed of P 188 and propylene glycol were investigated. The dissolution and antitumor activity of clotrimazole delivered by the poloxamer-based suppository were performed. The poloxamer mixtures composed of P 188 and propylene glycol were homogeneous phases. P 188 greatly affected the melting point of poloxamer mixtures. In particular, the poloxamer mixture [P 188/propylene glycol(70/30%)] with the melting point of about $32^{\circ}C$ was a solid form at room temperature and instantly melted at physiological temperature. Furthermore, the ratio of P 188/propylene glycol greatly affected the dissolution rates of clotrimazole from poloxamer-based suppository. It gave the more effective anti-tumor activity than conventional PEG-based suppository due to fast dissolution. Thus, the clotrimazole-Ioaded poloxamer-based solid suppository was an effective rectal dosage form with anti-tumor activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.115-115
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• 1997

A new capsaicin analog modified with 4-hydroxyl and alkyl chain of capsaicin was a very potent antiinflammatory analgesic drug and may be clinically useful for those who have rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy and cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate histopathology after short and long term application of poloxamer-based gels, and percutaneous absorption of various topical formulations. Poloxamer-based gel was prepared by cold method using poloxamer 407. The poloxamer gels was applied to dorsal sites of hairless mouse skin during one week or one month for the evaluation of skin irritation. The applied site was then sectioned for histopathologic examination. The topical formulations were also prepared using CMC, HPMC, MC, carbopol and glycerylmono stearate. Skin variation of poloxamer gels was studied using excised hairless mouse, rat, hamster and human penis skin. Franz-type diffusion cells were used far skin penetration of drug against receptor phase filled with about 10$m\ell$ of 0.9% saline solution kept at 32$^{\circ}C$. The concentration of drug was determined by the reverse phased C18, Symmetry HPLC with fluorometeric detector. No skin erythema was observed after dorsal application of poloxamer-based gels for one week or one month. No histopathologic changes was also examined, suggesting no skin toxicity of poloxamer-based gels. The order of flux rate was HPMC > MC ( CMC > poloxamer >> glycerylmono stearate ( carbopol. There was a skin variation of poloxamer gels. The flux rate of poloxamer gels was highest in case of hairless mouse followed by rat, human and hamster skin. The Partial support-Ministry of Science and Engineering (HAN project).

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2003

Physicochemical changes of poloxamer-based gel containing capsaicin analog (N-[3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)propyl]-4-(2-aminoethoxy)-3-methoxyphenyl acetamide) such as drug content, viscosity and surface tension were investigated during the storage conditions at three different temperatures (25, 40 and $60^{\circ}C$) over 90 days. No noticeable changes of color were observed when stored at 25 and $40^{\circ}C$. However, the color of white poloxamer gels turned yellow during storage at $60^{\circ}C$. The drug contents were unchanged during storage at $25^{\circ}C$ but had tendency to decrease at $40^{\circ}C$. The drug contents were highly decreased over 40-50% when stored at $60^{\circ}C$. The viscosity of a poloxamer-based gel was unchanged during storage at 25 and $40^{\circ}C$ but greatly increased at $60^{\circ}C$. The surface tension of a poloxamer-based gel was not changed at three different temperatures. The storage conditions of a poloxamer-based gel containing capsaicin analog can be considered for further clinical applications.

• 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.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 1998

Low toxicity, reverse thermal gelation and high drug loading capabilities suggest that poloxamer 407 gels have great potential as a topical drug delivery system. Kojic acid (KA) is an antimelanogenic agent which has been widely used in cosmetics to whiten the skin color. However, it has the drawbacks of skin irritancy due to its acidic pH. Poloxamer gels of different polymer contents were formulated to overcome the problem and compared to the cream type formulations of either w/o/w multiple emulsion cream or o/w type emulsion cream. Using Franz diffusion cells mounted with a synthetic cellulose membrane (MWCO 12,000), drug release characteristics of the formulations were evaluated by the HPLC assay of KA concentration in the receptor compartment of pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline solutions. Drug release from w/o/w multiple emulsion cream was controlled by oil membrane, showing the apparent zero order release kinetics. The KA release from the poloxamer gels was also controlled by the gel matrix, showing that drug release increased linearly as KA contents increase, but decreased exponentially as the polymer contents increase. In the skin irritancy test, the primary irritancy index(PII) of poloxamer gel base was lower than those of multiple emulsion cream base and o/w cream. Depending on KA contents or polymer contents in the gel. PH values in poloxamer gels were ranged from 1.3 to 2.0, which are interpreted as low or negligible irritation on skin. There was a good correlation between the log value of flux in drug release and PII value in skin irritation. It was possible to conclude that the poloxamer gels containing KA might be a good candidate for an antimelanogenic topical delivery system by virtue of the controlled release of the drug and the reduced skin irritancy.

• 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.