Temperature Responsive Gels Based on Pluronic F127 and Poly(vinyl alcohol)

Aqueous mixtures of Pluronic F127 and poly(vinyl alcohol) (20% polymer concentration in the system) were prepared and investigated by rheology and laser particle size distribution, in order to obtain temperature responsive gels for biomedical applications. The influence of the gelation conditions and system composition on the viscoelastic parameters and particle size distribution (which are very sensitive to the sot gel transition process) was followed. The investigations realized at physiological temperature (37 degrees C) showed the thixotropic profile of the gels, the yield stress induced by the Pluronic presence, and the high elasticity evidenced in the creep-recovery tests.