Experimental and theoretical approach to cationic drug-anionic gemini surfactant systems in aqueous medium

Herein the results of surface tension measurements on the mixed systems of an amphiphilic drug amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT) and three anionic bisphosphodiester gemini surfactants having different hydrophobic tails (8, 10, and 12 carbon) are presented. The experimental and ideal critical micelle concentration (cmc and cmcid) values suggest synergism in mixed systems of AMT and 8-2-8/10-2-10 and attractive interaction in AMT-12-2-12 systems. Other parameters evaluated from the data also suggest mixed micellization among the components with almost 50% contribution of surfactants (micellar mole fraction, X1(m), close to 0.5). The X1 values evaluated from Rubingh's model (X1(m)) and Motomura's model (X1(M)) as well as X1(id) values increase with increasing content of surfactants in solution. Adsorption behavior too indicates that the mixed monolayers experience attractive interaction (β(σ)) which vary in the order: AMT-12-2-12