ABSTRACT:
The usefulness of polymers in drug delivery systems is well established. Continued improvement and accelerating research and development in polymeric materials has played a vital role in the progress of most modified / controlled- release technologies. It is sometimes, desirable to maintain a constant plasma drug concentration within the therapeutically effective concentration range. The use of high viscosity hydromiscible vehicles gels is one of various approaches for controlled drug delivery. Pluronics (Poloxomer) are frequently used as a hydromiscible vehicles gel having thermoreversible property. Pluronics are block co-polymers of poly (ethylene oxide) and poly (propylene oxide) which exhibits a reversible thermal gelation in aqueous solution. Pluronic F68 (Polaxamer-188), F38 (Poloxamer- 108), and F127 (Poloxamer-407), P85, L61 are the most commonly used Pluronics. In this review paper we are discussing the various aspects of pluronics as a thermoreversible polymer with special reference to its chemical and physical property, mechanism of gelation, properties and drawback. Finally, the past research over pluronic F-127 is compiled in a manner to minimize the problems associated with the use of pluronics as a temperature sensitive polymer.