Polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene

Polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene, also known as poloxamer or Pluronic, is a synthetic nonionic surfactant. It is a block copolymer, meaning it consists of two different types of repeating units arranged in blocks. Specifically, it is composed of a central block of hydrophobic polyoxypropylene (POP) flanked by two hydrophilic blocks of polyoxyethylene (POE). The relative lengths of these blocks can be varied to create a wide range of poloxamers with different properties, such as varying molecular weights, solubility, and surface activity.

Poloxamers are characterized by their amphiphilic nature, possessing both water-loving (hydrophilic) and oil-loving (hydrophobic) segments. This duality allows them to reduce surface tension and act as emulsifiers, dispersants, wetting agents, and solubilizers. They are generally colorless, odorless, and viscous liquids or waxy solids at room temperature.

Due to their unique properties and low toxicity, poloxamers find extensive use in various industries. In pharmaceuticals, they serve as excipients in drug formulations, aiding in drug delivery, solubilization of poorly water-soluble drugs, and stabilization of suspensions and emulsions. They are also employed in cosmetics and personal care products as emulsifiers, thickeners, and solubilizers in creams, lotions, and shampoos. In industrial applications, poloxamers are used as detergents, defoamers, and lubricants. Their ability to form micelles and their tunable hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) make them versatile ingredients in numerous applications.