Gels of Pluronic F127 and nonionic surfactants from rheological characterization to controlled drug permeation

The role of nonionic vesicles on the theological behavior of Pluronic F127 is investigated above the dilute regime and below the cloud point of the nonionic surfactant. F127 is a copolymer possessing sol-gel transition by heating attributed to a phase transition from micellar to cubic. The presence of surfactant vesicles is expected to enhance the compartmentalization of a variety of drugs, independently of their affinity to the solvent. Such entrapment would be suitable for controlled release of the drugs in different applications. We address here a mixed Pluronic-nonionic surfactant system with particular emphasis to the effects of the surfactant on the rheological properties of the Pluronics, and the correlation between these properties and drug release control. The results show that the theological properties of the mixed system are mainly governed by the behavior of the polymer alone and that the mixed system can be useful to control the percutaneous permeation of a small drug, such as Diclofenac Sodium salt. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.