An organogel, a viscoelastic system, can be regarded as a semi-solid preparation which has an immobilized external apolar phase. The apolar phase is immobilized within spaces of the three-dimensional network structure formed due to the physical interactions amongst the self-assembling structures of compounds regarded as gelators. In general, organogels are thermodynamically stable in nature and have been explored as matrices for the delivery of bioactive agents. In the current paper, attempts have been made to understand the properties of organogels, various types of organogelators and some applications of the organogels in controlled delivery.

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Background:Organogels are defined as 3-dimensional networked structures which immobilize apolar solvents within them. These gelled formulations are gaining importance because of their ease of preparation and inherent stability with improved shelf life as compared to the ointments.Aim:Development of span 80–tween 80 mixture based organogels for the first time by fluid-filled fiber mechanism.Materials and Methods:Span 80 and tween 80 were used as surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively. The surfactant mixtures were dissolved in oil followed by the addition of water which led to the formation of organogels at specific compositions. The formulations were analyzed by microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), time-dependent stability test and accelerated thermal stability test by thermocycling method. Ciprofloxacin, a fourth-generation fluoroquinolone, was incorporated within the organogels. The antimicrobial activity of the drug loaded organogels and in vitro drug release from the gels was also determined.Results and Conclusions:Microscopic results indicated that the gels contained clusters of water-filled spherical structures. XRD study indicated the amorphous nature of the organogels. The release of the drug was found to be diffusion controlled and showed marked antimicrobial property. In short, the prepared organogels were found to be stable enough to be used as pharmaceutical formulation.