title: Spectroscopic investigations of the molecular interaction of anticancer drug mitoxantrone with non-ionic surfactant micelles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of the anticancer drug mitoxantrone with non-ionic micelles, as simple model systems of biological membranes.
  
  
  METHODS
  UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy was used to quantify the drug-surfactant micelle interactions in terms of the binding constant and the micelle-water partition coefficient of the drug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interaction of mitoxantrone with non-ionic micelles reduces the dimerization process of mitoxantrone, the drug molecules being encapsulated into micelles as monomer. The strength of the interaction between mitoxantrone and non-ionic micelles is higher at pH10 than at pH7.4, and depends on the surfactant in the order Tween 80>Tween 20>Triton X-100. The higher partition coefficient at pH10 compared to pH7.4 suggests that at basic pH the deprotonated mitoxantrone is incorporated more efficiently into the hydrophobic medium of non-ionic micelles compared to physiological pH, when the protonated drug is predominant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results on simple model systems miming the drug-membrane interactions contribute to the elucidation of the behaviour of the drug in vivo, as well as the possible utilization of surfactant micelles as drug carriers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry I. Murgulescu, Romanian Academy, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania. menache@chimfiz.icf.ro
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enache
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Volanschi
mesh_terms: D019281:Dimerization; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water; D008942:Mitoxantrone