Effects of additives on phase transitions of Poloxamer 407/Poloxamer 188 mixture and release property of monoolein cubic phase containing the poloxamers

The gelling temperature of Poloxamer 407/Poloxamer 188 (16%/10%) mixture solution increased with increasing amount of surfactants. Among surfactants tested, the order of effectiveness in increasing the gelling temperature was sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) > tween 20 > cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). The gelling temperature increased with the increasing concentration of cyclodextrin (CD). The order of effectiveness in increasing the gelling temperature was gamma CD > beta CD > alpha CD. The gelling temperature increased with increasing concentration of alcohols (ethanol and propylene glycol (PG)). On the contrary, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) decreased the gelling temperature of P407/P188 (16%/10%) mixture solution. On the other hand, the gelling temperature decreased upon addition of NaCl but it increased by addition of MgCl₂. With P407/P188-loaded monoolein cubic phase, the degrees of release in 40 hr were about 52% at 25 °C and 37.5% at 47 °C. The suppressed release at 47 °C is possibly because P407/P188 in the water channel of cubic phase is in gel state at the temperature.