Solubilization of Terfenadine,Riboflavin, and Sudan III by Aqueous Multi-basic Organic Acids

ABSTRACT

The aqueous solubility of terfenadine, riboflavin, and Sudan III (water-insoluble compounds) was enhanced by the addition of multi-basic organic acids, including citric, glutaric, malic, malonic, and tartaric acids. The variations of physical properties (density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, pH, and surface tension) against acid concentration (0–3.6 M at 25°C) were measured in order to explore possible mechanisms of solubility enhancement. Apart from the partial molar volumes, the measured physical properties varied nonlinearly with acid concentration. Glutaric acid contributes to solubility enhancement of terfenadine and Sudan III more than citric acid, with the latter slightly more effective towards riboflavin. Tartaric acid is the least effective, while malic and malonic acids occupy an intermediate position. Among the organic acids examined, only glutaric acid solutions exhibit significant surface activity, which lends itself to solubility enhancement of the three hydrophobic drugs (interfacial packing of 55 ± 3 Å² at the air–water interface, critical aggregate concentrations (CAC) at 1.8 ± 0.4 M). In contrast, all five organic acid solutions of terfenadine demonstrate more effective lowering of the surface tension of water, with the terfenadinium acid salts exhibiting interfacial packing of 108 ± 9 Å² at the air–water interface. On the other hand, organic acid solutions of riboflavin and Sudan III exhibited essentially no surface activity, aside from the intrinsic contribution of the organic acids themselves. Thus, self-association of glutaric acid contributes to the solubility enhancement of the three hydrophobic drugs. This combined with the surface activity of terfenadinium acid salts explains the higher tendency of glutaric acid to solubilize terfenadine. Mixed micellization of terfenadinium glutarate and glutaric acid occurs with an interfacial packing of 166 ± 18 Å² at the air–water interface. The corresponding CAC were estimated at 3.1 ± 0.2 mM for terfenadinium glutarate and 8.0 ± 0.4 mM for glutaric acid. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding with the extensive hydroxyl group network of riboflavin reflects the higher affinity of citric acid than glutaric acid towards riboflavin. The variability in solubility enhancement exhibited by tartaric, malic, and malonic acids appears to be a result of the interplay between several factors including intra- vs. inter-molecular hydrogen bonding, slight organic acid surface activity, and acid hydration.