Poloxamer 188
CAS 9003-11-6
- CAS number
- 9003-11-6
Supply of Poloxamer 188
- Grades
- Cell-culture grade, qualified lot by lot for shear protection, and pharmacopoeial grades (USP-NF / EP) for oral and parenteral use. CAS 9003-11-6 covers the poloxamer family; grade 188 is defined by its molecular weight and oxyethylene content.
- Packaging
- 5 kg and 25 kg fibre drums with PE liner
- Documents
- CoA, SDS and TDS on request; certificate of origin where the destination requires it.
- Delivery
- Worldwide, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and the rest of the EU, the United Arab Emirates, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. Quoted EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP.
Poloxamer 188 is a synthetic surfactant. Companies that grow living cells to make biological medicines add it to the growth medium to protect the cells from damage by stirring and air bubbles. It is also used as a solubiliser and stabiliser in injectable and oral medicines.
Technical details
Poloxamer 188 is a triblock copolymer: a central polypropylene-oxide block between two polyethylene-oxide blocks, about 80% polyethylene oxide by weight, with an average molecular weight of around 8,400. In bioreactors it adsorbs at the surface of sparged gas bubbles and prevents cells from being damaged when the bubbles burst, which is why it is a standard additive in CHO and other suspension cultures at about 1 g/L. Because the polymer is a distribution of chain lengths, performance varies between lots, and poorly performing lots have been documented; biopharmaceutical buyers therefore qualify cell-culture grade lots before release. Ehlinar supplies cell-culture and pharmacopoeial grades.
Appearance: White waxy flakes, prills or powder; freely soluble in water.
Applications
How we supply
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA), lot-specific where available
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS / MSDS)
- Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
- Certificate of Origin / Certificate of Conformity
Independent third-party inspection can be arranged on request, with the agency and scope agreed per trade. Representative samples can be requested for qualification, subject to supplier availability. We recommend incoming quality control against the agreed CoA.
Quoted on standard Incoterms (e.g. EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP) as agreed per trade. Delivery region, packaging and grade are confirmed per quote.
Documents and services above are subject to supplier availability and confirmed per quote; nothing here is an offer.
Typical / indicative values — not a binding specification
| Property | Typical |
|---|---|
| Average molecular weight | ~7,680–9,510 (USP / EP) |
| Oxyethylene content | ~80% |
Also known as
P188 · Polyoxyethylene–polyoxypropylene block copolymer · PEG–PPG–PEG triblock copolymer
Frequently asked questions
- Why do lots of poloxamer 188 perform differently in cell culture?
- The material is a distribution of block lengths, and small differences, such as a larger fraction of more hydrophobic species, can reduce shear protection. Cell-culture grade lots are tested for that; request the lot-specific qualification data.
- What concentration is used in culture media?
- Typically about 1 g/L (0.1% w/v), adjusted to the cell line and the sparging regime.
- Is it the same as poloxamer 407?
- No. Poloxamer 407 has a larger polypropylene-oxide block and forms gels at body temperature; it is used in topical and gel formulations. Both share the family CAS number, so specify the grade by name.
Enquire about Poloxamer 188
Related products
Figures and identifiers here are compiled from public references and provided for general information; they are indicative, not a specification. See all products.