Poloxamer 407
Poloxamer 407 is a hydrophilic non-ionic surfactant of the more general class of copolymers known as poloxamers. Poloxamer 407 is a triblock copolymer consisting of a central hydrophobic block of polypropylene glycol flanked by two hydrophilic blocks of polyethylene glycol. The approximate lengths of the two PEG blocks is 101 repeat units while the approximate length of the propylene gycol block is 56 repeat units.[1] This particular compound is also known by the BASF trade name Pluronic F127.
Uses of poloxamer 407
Most of the common uses of poloxamer 407 are related to its surfactant properties. For example, it is widely used in cosmetics for dissolving oily ingredients in water. It can also be found in multi-purpose contact lens cleaning solutions, where its purpose there is to help remove lipid films from the lens. It can also be found in some mouthwashes. There is a research ongoing for using poloxamer 407 for aligning severed blood vessels before gluing them surgically.[2]
Reports of adverse effects
It was reported in The Australian newspaper 18 November 2006 that this common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash can cause high cholesterol.[3] A team from the Centre for Ageing and the ANZAC Research Institute in Sydney found that when P407 was given to mice, it coated cells in the liver that control cholesterol levels, leading to a 10-fold increase in levels. The dose administered was 1g/kg by inter-peritoneal injection.[4]
References
- ^ Tania Betancourt; The University of Texas at Austin. Biomedical Engineering (2007). Targetable biodegradable nanoparticles for delivery of chemotherapeutic and imaging agents to ovarian cancer. ProQuest. pp. 130–. ISBN 978-0-549-34761-3. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- ^ Stanford University Medical Center (28 August 2011). "Sutureless method for joining blood vessels invented". ScienceDaily.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ O'Neill, Craig (18 November 2006). "Dental hygiene gives you a brush with cholesterol". The Australian.
- ^ Cogger, VC (2006 Dec). "Hyperlipidemia and surfactants: the liver sieve is a link". Atherosclerosis. 189 (2): 273–81. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2005.12.025. PMID 16458315.
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External links
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