ABSTRACT
Lack of mucoadhesive properties is the major drawback to poloxamer 407 (F127)-basedhydrogels for mucosal administration. The objective of the present study was to construct a novel mucoadhesive and thermosensitivehydrogel drug delivery system based on an amino-functionalized poloxamer for vaginal administration. First, amino-functionalized poloxamer 407 (F127-NH) was synthesized and characterized with respect to its micellization behavior and interaction with mucin. Then using acetate gossypol (AG) as model drug, AG-loaded F127-NH-basedhydrogels (NFGs) were evaluated with respect to rheology, drug release,vaginal mucosal adhesion,intravaginal retention and local irritation after vaginal administration to healthy female mice. The results show that F127-NHis capable of forming a thermosensitivehydrogel with sustained drug release properties. An interaction between positively charged F127-NHand negatively charged mucin was revealed by changes in the particle size and zeta potential of mucin particles as well as an increase in the complex modulus of NFG caused by mucin.andfluorescence imaging and quantitative analysis of the amount of AG remaining in mouse vaginal lavage all demonstrated greater intravaginal retention of NFG than that of an unmodified F127-basedhydrogel. In conclusion, amino group functionalization confers valuable mucoadhesive properties on poloxamer 407.