Thermogelling properties of purified poloxamer 407

Poloxamers are triblock copolymers with a center block of hydrophobic polypropylene oxide (PPO) flanked by two hydrophilic polyethyleneoxide (PEO) blocks. Among this family of copolymers, poloxamer 407 is a non-ionic surfactant with reversible gelation properties above a particular polymer concentration and a particular temperature. Easy preparation of poloxamer 407 based sterile injectable formulations have made this copolymer a good candidate for drug delivery, specifically when controlled release of the drug is required. Previously, the applications of compendial poloxamer 407 preparations were demonstrated; however, low viscosity, poor elasticity, and sol-to-gel transition temperature (T_sol-gel) over a wide temperature range were observed. A purification process was introduced to eliminate impurities and low molecular weight copolymer molecules from the compendial poloxamer 407 resulting in higher viscosity values with T_sol-gel in a narrow temperature range. Here, poloxamer 407 was purified based on the proposed process and the rheological and analytical evaluation of the purified poloxamer 407 was conducted and compared to unpurified, compendial poloxamer 407. Then, the impact of poloxamer 407 concentration on gel formation was evaluated. For drug delivery applications, the effect of relevant buffer salts and the effect of addition of ethanol to the poloxamer 407 solutions were rheologically evaluated.