POLOXAMERS Meaning and
Definition
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Poloxamers are a class of nonionic block copolymers composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) units. They are known for their unique surfactant properties and are widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations due to their excellent solubilizing, emulsifying, stabilizing, and thickening abilities.
Poloxamers are designated using a number system indicating their composition and properties, where the numbers P and L refer to the polypropylene oxide (PPO) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) block lengths, respectively. For example, Poloxamer 188 signifies it contains 80% PPO and 20% PEO.
These polymers possess both hydrophilic and hydrophobic components due to the presence of PEG and PPG blocks, respectively. This unique structure allows them to act as effective emulsifiers and wetting agents. They can form micelles in solution, with the hydrophilic PEG chains oriented towards the aqueous phase and the hydrophobic PPG chains positioned towards the core of the micelle. This self-aggregation property contributes to their capability to solubilize lipophilic compounds.
In the pharmaceutical industry, Poloxamers are often employed to increase solubility, enhance drug delivery, and control drug release. They are utilized in ophthalmic solutions, vaginal gels, nasal spray formulations, and even intravenous drug delivery systems. Additionally, they possess thermo-reversible gelation properties, transforming from a liquid to a gel-like state when exposed to body temperature. This unique characteristic is particularly valuable in sustained-release drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.
Overall, Poloxamers play a crucial role in modifying the physicochemical properties of a
Common Misspellings for POLOXAMERS
- ooloxamers
- loloxamers
- -oloxamers
- 0oloxamers
- piloxamers
- pkloxamers
- plloxamers
- pploxamers
- p0loxamers
- p9loxamers
- pokoxamers
- popoxamers
- poooxamers
- polixamers
- polkxamers
- pollxamers
- polpxamers
- pol0xamers
- pol9xamers
- polozamers
Etymology of POLOXAMERS
The word "Poloxamers" is derived from two components: "poly" and "oxamers".
"Poly" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "polus", meaning "many" or "much". In scientific terminology, it is commonly used to indicate multiples or repetitions.
"Oxamers" is derived from the combining form "oxa-" which refers to oxygen, and "mer" which comes from "meros", meaning "part" in Greek. Combined, "oxa-mer" refers to a chemical compound consisting of multiple units of oxygen.
Therefore, "Poloxamers" can be understood as compounds made up of multiple repeating units involving oxygen.
