Organogels in Drug Delivery: A Special Emphasis on Pluronic Lecithin Organogels

Abstract

-Organogels have emerged as an alternative carrier for small and macromolecules via transdermal, oral, rectal and ophthalmic routes. Pluronic lecithin organogels (PLO gels) are lecithin-based organogels widely used in compounding pharmacies as a vehicle for enhancing the transdermal permeability of many therapeutic drugs. However, the scientific and systematic evidence in support of how well PLO gels help in transdermal delivery is scanty. Recently, some clinical studies have reported nearly complete lack of bioavailability of certain topically administered drugs from PLO gels. The present review aims at summarizing gels and organogels, with a focus on the use of PLO gels in transdermal drug delivery. A special emphasis is placed on controversies looming over the use of PLO gels as a delivery platform for drugs via transdermal route.

Gelatin-Based Hydrogels for the Controlled Release of 5,6-Dihydroxyindole-2-Carboxylic Acid, a Melanin-Related Metabolite with Potent Antioxidant Activity

“…Severe limitations in this perspective stem from the ease of this compound to undergo oxidation with subsequent loss of its properties. In addition, proper formulation allowing for vehiculation through the skin and a controlled release would greatly add to the beneficial effects prolonging the action and taking the bioavailable concentrations relatively low.In recent years, several natural compounds have been tested for the topical treatment of skin disorders by use of a variety of transcutaneous delivery systems including lipophilic nanoparticles like liposomes [12], solid lipid nanoparticles [13,14], nanostructured lipid carriers, monoolein aqueous dispersions [15,16], ethosomes [17,18], and lecithin organogels [19,20]. Speed up of wound healing process by a nanohydrogel embedding an antioxidant compound like baicalin has been described that exhibited optimal performance for a complete skin restoration and inhibition of specific inflammatory markers [21].A variety of hydrophilic delivery systems have also been explored such as gelatin, the product of collagen hydrolysis, as it offers several advantages including the historical safe use in a wide range of medical applications, low costs, inherent electrostatic binding properties, and proteolytic degradability.…”

“…In recent years, several natural compounds have been tested for the topical treatment of skin disorders by use of a variety of transcutaneous delivery systems including lipophilic nanoparticles like liposomes [12], solid lipid nanoparticles [13,14], nanostructured lipid carriers, monoolein aqueous dispersions [15,16], ethosomes [17,18], and lecithin organogels [19,20]. Speed up of wound healing process by a nanohydrogel embedding an antioxidant compound like baicalin has been described that exhibited optimal performance for a complete skin restoration and inhibition of specific inflammatory markers [21].…”

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“…It is a phospholipid. In designing of organogels lecithin is used for the first time was described by Scartazzini and Luisi in 1988 6 . The lecithin-based organogels are thermoreversible (solto-gel transition temperature at 40 ºC), stable thermodynamically, viscoelastic, transparent, biocompatible in nature and nonirritant 16 .…”

“…Fatty Acid Derived Sorbitan Organogels: In the formation of this type of organogels, sorbitan monostearate and sorbitan monopalmitate gelators are used. These hydrophobic gelators have the ability of solvent immobilization for solvents like isopropyl myristate (IPM) and vegetable oil 6 . After heating the gelator solution in an apolar solvent when the temperature is reduced at lower-level then these gelators forms a solid fibre matrix.…”

“…The main component in PLOs is pluronic F-127 or poloxomer 407, it is a type of triblock copolymer which contains 70% of the polyoxyethylene and the molecular weight is 12500 Da 4,5 . In the early 1990s, an American compounding pharmacist Marty Jones and his workmate Lawson Kloesel developes PLOs as a vehicle for transdermal and topical delivery of drug from original lecithin organogels 6,7 . There are so many studies that claims PLOs have unique nature that can penetrate the barrier layers of the skin and it will give more therapeutic effect.…”