Pluronic® P123/TPGS and pluronic® F127/TPGS mixed micelles for the entrapment of itraconazole

Mixed micelles of Pluronic® P123 (P123) or Pluronic® F127 (F127) and d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) at different mass ratios (4:0, 3:1, 2:2, and 1:3) and various total polymer concentrations (5, 10, and 20 %w/v) were prepared to incorporate itraconazole (ITZ), an aqueous solubility problematic antifungal drug. The results revealed that the critical micelle concentrations of all mixed micelles were lower than that of the single-component (P123 or F127) polymeric micelles. The particle size of P123/TPGS and F127/TPGS mixed micelles ranged from 8-17 nm and 9-28 nm, respectively, depending on polymer concentration and mass ratio. The increasing polymer concentration and TPGS mass ratio declined the particle size of mixed micelles. After drug loading, the polymeric mixed micelles became slightly larger. The surface charge of all polymeric mixed micelles was negative and closed to zero when increasing polymer concentration. The loading efficiency of polymeric mixed micelles for ITZ could be enhanced by increasing polymer concentration and TPGS mass ratio in the mixed micelles.