title: Characterization of gelation process and drug release profile of thermosensitive liquid lecithin/poloxamer 407 based gels as carriers for percutaneous delivery of ibuprofen.
abstract: Suitability of liquid lecithin (i.e., solution of lecithin in soy bean oil with ∼ 60% w/w of phospholipids) for formation of gels, upon addition of water solution of poloxamer 407, was investigated, and formulated systems were evaluated as carriers for percutaneous delivery of ibuprofen. Formulation study of pseudo-ternary system liquid lecithin/poloxamer 407/water at constant liquid lecithin/poloxamer 407 mass ratio (2.0) revealed that minimum concentrations of liquid lecithin and poloxamer 407 required for formation of gel like systems were 15.75% w/w and 13.13% w/w, respectively, while the maximum content of water was 60.62% w/w. The systems comprising water concentrations in a range from 55 to 60.62% w/w were soft semisolids suitable for topical application, and they were selected for physicochemical and biopharmaceutical evaluation. Analysis of conductivity results and light microscopy examination revealed that investigated systems were water dilutable dispersions of spherical oligolamellar associates of phospholipids and triglyceride molecules in the copolymer water solution. Rheological behavior evaluation results indicated that the investigated gels were thermosensitive shear thinning systems. Ibuprofen (5% w/w) was incorporated by dispersing into the previously prepared carriers. Drug-loaded systems were physically stable at storage temperature from 5 ± 3°C to 40 ± 2°C, for 30 days. In vitro ibuprofen release was in accordance with the Higuchi model (rH>0.95) and sustained for 12h. The obtained results implicated that formulated LLPBGs, optimized regarding drug release and organoleptic properties, represent promising carriers for sustained percutaneous drug delivery of poorly soluble drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Cosmetology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, P.O. Box 146, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: ljiljanadjek@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Djekic
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Cosmetology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, P.O. Box 146, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Danina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krajisnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Cosmetology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, P.O. Box 146, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Cosmetology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, P.O. Box 146, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Cosmetology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, P.O. Box 146, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Primorac
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D065546:Drug Liberation; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000737:chemistry*; D054709:Lecithins / Q000737:chemistry*; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005079:Excipients; D005782:Gels; D054709:Lecithins; D014867:Water; D020442:Poloxamer; D007052:Ibuprofen
keywords: Gelation process; Ibuprofen; Liquid lecithin; Poloxamer 407; Sustained drug release; Thermosensitive gels