Association behavior of the amphiphilic drug and sodium p-toluenesulfonate mixtures: Effect of additives

Abstract

The interaction between an amphiphilic phenothiazine drug—promethazine hydrochloride (PMT)—and anionic hydrotrope sodium p-toluenesulfonate (NaTS) mixtures was analyzed and the effect of different mole fractions (α1) of NaTS along with the variation of temperature was also investigated in three different media, water/NaCl (50 mmol.kg−1)/urea (U) (300 mmol.kg−1), using a conductometric method. Drug PMT is mainly utilized to cure allergic symptoms. From the study of pure components along with solution mixtures of components, various physicochemical parameters were evaluated and discussed thoroughly. The obtained results show that the experimental critical micelle concentrations (cmcs) are less than their corresponding ideal cmc (cmcid) values, showing the interaction amongst the constituents (PMT and NaTS). Mixing of dissimilar kinds of amphiphiles has an opportunity to bring about additional valuable acts owing to their attractive interaction. As hydrophobicity of the PMT + NaTS mixtures increased, therefore the cmc values remarkably decreased. The degree of dissociation (g) of the studied system was also evaluated and found to increase with a rise in temperature and decrease via an increase in α1 of NaTS. In salt (NaCl) solution, cmc and g-value of PMT and PMT+ NaTS at all compositions were decreased compared with an aqueous system while in U solution their value was found to be greater than in aqueous solution. Various theoretical models were also considered to estimate the fraction of hydrotrope in mixed micelles PMT + NaTS, the parameter is named the micellar mole fraction (X1Rb (Rubingh model), X1Rd (Rodenas model) and their ideal value is X1id), and the obtained value shows the higher composition of NaTS in mixed micelles along with their value increasing through an increase of α1 of NaTS in the solution mixture. One other parameter, called the interaction parameter (β), was observed as negative throughout the study, also proving the attractive interaction/synergism amongst the components of the solution mixture (PMT + NaTS). Assessed activity coefficients were all below one, showing the nonideality of the studied system. Several thermodynamic parameters of micellization, such as Gibbs free energy (ΔGm0), enthalpy (ΔHm0), and entropy (ΔSm0) have been determined in all studied media and compositions. UV–visible spectroscopy also confirmed the interaction amongst PMT and NaTS. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images depicted a clear-cut interaction of PMT and NaTS interaction. The outcomes from the current study are significant in the expansion of the operative model drug delivery process.