Recent advances in drug delivery nanocarriers incorporated in temperature-sensitive Pluronic F-127–A critical review

New polymeric systems are constantly developed for novel biomedical applications. Pluronic F127 (PF127) is a tri-block copolymer with surface-active properties. It comprises a focal hydrophobic (polypropylene oxide) chain and two terminal hydrophilic poly (ethylene oxide) chains. They are attractive for several biomedical applications because of their non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and heat-sensitive sol-gel properties. Nanocarriers are used for the efficient transport of drug molecules and helps in sustained drug delivery. Recently, the development of several PF 127-based hydrogels is gaining attention as an advanced treatment system. The drug-loaded nanocarriers embedded PF-127 hydrogels effectively protect the drug from degradation and increase the residence time at the site of administration. These hybrid systems are compatible with different drug molecules that can be used for different channels of administration and provide controlled release of encapsulated drugs with high therapeutic potential based on the nanomaterial used. This review article explains the strategies and therapeutic applications of temperature-sensitive PF127 hydrogels containing different biocompatible nanocarriers to improve the biopharmaceutical properties of the drugs.