The effect of poloxamer 407 on the properties of hydrophilic gels containing lactic acid complexed with chitosan

Anatomical and physiological conditions in the vagina do not facilitate easy application of the drug neither its maintenance on the site of application. Insufficient duration of the drug’s contact with vaginal mucosa does not provide adequate pH conditioning the physiological biocenosis of the organ. Gels containing lactic acid complexed with chitosan at a stechiometric ration 1:1 and 2:1 and 5 - 25% content of PEG-200 are able to move from 25 to 30 cm. Higher concentrations of the poloxamer 407: 23 and 25% result in the movability of 20 to 24 cm. The addition of 20 – 25% poloxamer 407 increases the pH to 4.55 to 5.30 for 1:1 gels and 4.00 to 4.85 for 2:1 gels. The investigations showed that the addition of a thermosensitive polymer increases the adhesive properties of the investigated gels. Rheological investigations revealed an increase in the dynamic viscosity of preparations containing poloxamer 407 in comparison to the reference gels.