Conceptualization and Preliminary Characterization of Poloxamer-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Poloxamers are widely used in biomedical applications, but their effectiveness depends on achieving an optimal sol-gel phase transition near body temperature. This study evaluates three different poloxamer mixtures for their potential in treating meniscus tears, focusing on gel formation, injectability, and cell compatibility. The rheological properties, cytotoxicity assessments, and cellular migration experiments were studied using NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells as the standard experimental model for primary research. The poloxamer hydrogels showed properties well suited to injectable or drug delivery systems. Specifically, the combination of Synperonic F108 and Poloxamer 188 tended to show less adhesion and more aggregation, followed by a greater number of viable cells, suggesting its utility as a coating or foundational matrix. Concurrently, the Kolliphor 407 and Poloxamer 188 combination exhibited increased viscosity, maintaining a gel state at physiological temperature. Its biocompatibility indicated the potential for injectable controlled-release systems for musculoskeletal injuries. Our findings demonstrate that the poloxamer concentration and composition significantly influence their biomedical applications. These triblock copolymer systems indicated useful characteristics for surgical applications, such as favorable sol-gel transition kinetics and biocompatibility, suggesting potential applications in osteoarticular regeneration.