Abstract
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 (Cm-E2O-Cm, 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 Ksv (quenching constant) data trend was: C12-E2O-C12 < C14-E2O-C14 < C16-E2O-C16. 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 Cm-E2O-Cm gemini surfactants was found.
•Flurbiprofen interactions with novel cationic gemini surfactants were evaluated.•Fluorescence binding constant increases with increasing chain length from C12-E2O-C12 to C16-E2O-C16.•Pyrene fluorescence micropolarity index depends on the concentration of gemini surfactant.•Quantum efficiency energy transfer was higher for long hydrophobic chain surfactant.