Correlation between pharmacological potency and micellar surface potential of local anesthetic.

1. The micellar surface potentials (delta psi) of dibucaine hydrochloride (DC), tetracaine hydrochloride (TC) and lidocaine hydrochloride (LC) as local anesthetics have been determined by a fluorescence method. 2. The positive value of delta psi became larger in the order of LC < TC < DC. This result agrees with the order of pharmacological potency of local anesthetic. 3. A correlation between micellar surface potential and relative pharmacological potency of local anesthetic was suggested.