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. 2014 Mar 30;7(4):E70–E76. doi: 10.1208/pt070492

Preparation and characterization of Pluronic-colloidal silicon dioxide composite particles as liquid crystal precursor

Manish Maheshwari 1,✉, Anant Paradkar 1,✉, Shigeo Yamamura 2, Shivajirao Kadam 1
PMCID: PMC2750329  PMID: 17285743

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to produce spray-dried Pluronic-colloidal silicon dioxide (Aerosil) composite particles as a liquid crystal precursor that would form a liquid crystalline phase upon hydration. A Pluronic-colloidal silicon dioxide dispersion in isopropyl alcohol was spray-dried to obtain composite particles using different concentrations of Aerosil. Polarizing microscopy, gelation, gel melting, and rheological studies were employed to characterize the composite particles. The composite particles obtained were irregular, with concave depression. Gelation was found to decrease with the addition of Aerosil, while gel melting was found to increase with the concentration of Aerosil. Rheological studies showed an increase in elasticity as well as viscosity with an increase in the concentration of Aerosil. Composite particles showed improved gelation and rheological properties. These composite particles and the process by which they were obtained may be useful for designing various drug delivery systems.

Keywords: precursor, spray-drying, liquid crystal, Pluronic, Aerosil, rheology

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