Solubilisation of model adjuvants by Pluronic block copolymers.

The effect of two model adjuvants (benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol) on the structure and dynamics of three Pluronic triblock copolymers (P85, P105 and F127) was studied using small-angle neutron scattering and pulsed-field gradient NMR. The two adjuvants studied have different aqueous solubilities. It was found that both adjuvants promoted the micellisation of the Pluronic block copolymers. In addition they lead to a swelling of the micelles, as shown by small-angle neutron scattering. From the pulsed-field gradient NMR results it was possible to determine the amount of adjuvant bound to the micelles.