In this study, we explored the interaction of a cationic phenazinium dye, phenosafranin (PSF, here used as a model drug), with pluronic block copolymer F127, both in the presence and in the absence of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), which forms mixed micelles with F127. We applied both steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques, along with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), to demonstrate the binding of the probe PSF to both the pluronic and F127/SDS mixed micelles. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) study revealed that, upon interaction with SDS, the hydrodynamic diameter (4) of F127 micelles decreased due to the formation of the mixed micelles. The PSF penetrated to the more hydrophobic interior of the mixed micellar system as compared to F127 micelles alone. Micropolarity and fluorescence-quenching experiments revealed that PSF is more deeply seated in the case of F127/SDS mixed micelles. Through a partition coefficient, lifetime measurements, and time resolved anisotropy experiments, we also established that the partitioning of the probe within the F127 micelles in the presence of SDS is almost double than that in its absence. ITC data corroborates the fact that the binding of PSF is the strongest and most thermodynamically favorable when mixed micelles are formed, which enables our system to serve as an excellent drug delivery vehicle when compared to F127 alone.
