Development of a thermogelling ophthalmic formulation of cysteine

Preliminary studies carried out with cysteine 2% solution showed that pH adjusted to isoelectrical pH (i.e., 4.9) led to enhance stability during autoclaving and ensured no significant degradation during at least 14 days if stored at 2-8 degrees C protected from light. Optimized formulations combined either cysteine(2%)/Poloxamer407(16.5%) or cysteine(2%)/Poloxamer407(20%)/Poloxamer188(5%) and were characterized by an adequate temperature of gelification (TG) (25.9 degrees C and 26.9 degrees C, respectively), an important gel strength (5.1daN and 5.3daN, respectively) and a drastic increase in the apparent viscosity between 24 degrees C and 32 degrees C (multiplication factor of 78 and 77-fold, respectively). Cysteine addition produced only slight but significant decrease in temperature of gelification and increase in gel strength.