Rheological properties of poloxamer 407 aqueous solutions

Rheological properties of poloxamer 407 (brand named Pluronic F127) were examined by changing shear rate, temperature and the recovery properties of apparent viscosity after heating for several times.  The results indicated that poloxamer 407 aqueous solution showed a Newtonian behavior at a low concentration while it might be a pseudoplastic fluid when the concentration reached a certain point.  The thixotropy and the sol-gel transition temperature decreased with increasing the concentration (it could be an in situ gel at body temperature when the concentration of poloxamer 407 up to 15.25%).  The results that obtained from the rheological data would be useful in the application of poloxamer 407 such as in situ gel preparation.