OBJECTIVE  To investigate the rheological properties of mupirocin ointment and expound the correlation between the rheological properties and the composition and proportion of the prescription.

METHODS  The flow curve, amplitude scanning, frequency scanning and thixotropic recovery of commercially available mupirocin ointment were determined by using the Thermo Fisher HAAKE MARS40 rheometer. In addition, in vitro release experiments were introduced to further verify the influence of the composition and proportion of the prescription on the rheological properties. Pearson correlation analysis was used to clarify the correlation between the rheological properties and the composition and proportion of the prescription.

RESULTS Using P20 stainless steel flat plate as the fixture, the flow curves, amplitude scanning, frequency scanning and thixotropic recovery of mupirocin ointment were determined at the temperature of (25±0.1)°C, and the method showed good precision. Through the determination, the higher the content of PEG400 in mupirocin ointment, the lower the strength of the three-dimensional network structure, the lower the viscosity of the ointment, the better the fluidity, and the faster the in vitro release rate.

CONCLUSION There is a certain correlation between the composition and proportion of the prescription of mupirocin ointment and its rheological properties. Different composition and proportion of the prescription affect the drug release by changing the rheological properties.