Surface-active ionic liquids as drug carriers: A physico-chemical study

Abstract

This work evaluates the potential of two surface active ionic liquids (SAILs) 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide as drug carrier for ciprofloxacin (CPF) and compares them with their conventional counterparts dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide using spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Different physico-chemical parameters including critical micelle concentration (CMC), binding constants, partition coefficients and their corresponding free energy changes, thermodynamic parameters of micellization and redox behavior of micelle-drug systems were investigated. Both the SAILs demonstrated higher solubilization powers and binding constants owing to the less polar nature of imidazolium ring. Lower CMCs indicated relatively stronger hydrophobic forces existing in all SAILs-CPF systems tested. The cyclic voltammetry displayed shifting of oxidation peaks towards higher positive potential in the micellar region indicating the protection of CPF against oxidation. This work demonstrates the benefits of using SAILs as drug carriers due to their lower CMCs, improved binding and partition coefficients, and favorable electrochemical results.