Spectroscopic exploration of binding between novel cationic gemini surfactants and Flurbiprofen

The surfactant-drug interaction/binding studies are getting tremendous attention due to their utility in pharmaceuticals and drug delivery. In this study, the spectroscopic methods have been applied to analyze the binding capabilities of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory 2-(2-fluoro-4-biphenylyl)propionic acid (flurbiprofen) drug with new type of oxy-diester hybridized green cationic gemini surfactant (C-m-E2O-C-m, where chain length m = 12, 14, 16 and E2O is spacer) due to its high biodegradability and reduced environmental hazardousness. The intrinsic fluorescence and UV-visible studies revealed that flurbiprofen fluorescence was quenched significantly and formed complex with the gemini surfactants. The K-sv (quenching constant) data trend was: C-12-E2O-C-12 < C-14-E2O-C-14 < C-16-E2O-C-16. This is found to be according to chain length of gemini surfactant and values of critical micellar concentration. Therefore, substantial interaction of flurbiprofen with the C-m-E2O-C-m gemini surfactants was found. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study investigated the binding capabilities of flurbiprofen drug with a new type of gemini surfactant using spectroscopic methods, revealing significant interaction and a correlation with the chain length and critical micellar concentration of the surfactant.