Study of inclusion complex formation between a cationic surfactant, two cyclodextrins and a drug

In this study inclusion of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) with α-, and β-cyclodextrin (CD) in the presence and the absence of bromhexine (BH) was investigated using ion-selective electrode method. The association constants of HTAB with CDs were determined by potentiometry and were close to literature values. The obtained results indicated that α-CD formed 1:1 and 1:2 inclusion complexes, but β-CD formed only a 1:1 inclusion complex. In the presence of drug, the interaction between CDs and HTAB decreased, because both drug and HTAB could interact with CDs. The results showed that the interaction between drug and CDs are greater than HTAB and CDs. The stoichiometry of the inclusion complexes, the critical aggregation concentration (CAC), the monomer surfactant concentration of HTAB, [HTAB]f, and also the effect of the inclusion complex on the micellization process of the HTAB were determined by conductivity measurements.