Design and Statistical Optimization of Pluronic Based Ibuprofen Gels by Box-Behnken Design and Their Physicochemical Characterization

The present work was focused on the development of pluronic based ibuprofen gels for the purpose of increasing drug solubility with the aid of pluronic F127, pluronic L64, and propylene glycol additives as gelling agents and central composite design (CCD) expert software for optimizing their percentage content. The desired gels were formulated and evaluated for the gelation temperature and drug content as analyzed by the CCD expert software. Finally optimized gel formulations (OFs) were subjected to in vitro diffusion studies in terms of a kinetic fitting model. It was found that OF1 had the optimum concentrations in making effective pluronic based ibuprofen gels with desired response characteristics. Pluronic gels can be used as efficient means of formulation to enhance drug solubility and permeability which is confirmed by the results of in vitro diffusion studies and flux calculations.