Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41002463›Full record

ArticleGels (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Tuning Pluronic Hydrogel Networks: Effects of Vancomycin Loading on Gelation, Rheological Properties, and Micellar Structures.

Michael J Gaffney, Qi Han, Kate Fox, Nhiem Tran

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gels (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Michael J GaffneySchool of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
Qi HanSchool of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6974-0344
Kate FoxSchool of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8090-3215
Nhiem TranSchool of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0209-2434

Funding

RMIT University PhD Scholarship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Thermoresponsive Pluronic hydrogels offer a promising platform for localised antibiotic delivery. However, how drug loading affects the structural integrity and gelation of these systems remains underexplored. This study evaluates the impact of vancomycin on the physicochemical and self-assembly behaviour of Pluronic F127, F108, and F68 hydrogels. Rheological analysis revealed that vancomycin altered the critical micellisation and gelation temperatures (CMT and CGT, respectively), accelerating gelation in weak gel systems but disrupting network formation in stronger gels. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) showed that vancomycin suppressed micellar ordering, particularly along FCC (111) planes in F127, without inducing a phase transition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging confirmed reduced pore integrity in vancomycin-loaded F127 and F108 gels, while 35% F68 gels failed to form stable structures at the tested concentrations despite enhanced drug solubility. F127 (18%) and F108 (22-23%) maintained gelation at 37 °C with reasonable mechanical strength and partial cubic ordering, making them suitable candidates for drug-eluting gels. These findings inform the design of thermoresponsive hydrogels for localised, implant-associated antibiotic delivery.

Indexed as

antibioticsF108F127F68hydrogelsPluronicrheologysmall-angle X-ray scatteringvancomycin

Identifiers

PMID41002463
PMCPMC12469747

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.