Physicochemical characterization of a reverse micellar solution after loading with different drugs.

Diclofenac sodium (DS), timolol maleate (TM) and pilocarpine hydrochloride (PHCl) were solubilized in a reverse micellar solution (RMS) consisting of lecithin and middle-chain triglycerides (MCT). The influence of these drugs on the physicochemical parameters of the RMS was investigated. Although none of the drugs influenced the size of the associates, the micellar shapes varied considerably. While DS and PHCl increased the anisometry, reverse micelles with TM were spherical. The transformation of the RMS into a lamellar mesophase on contact with water was generally not prevented by any of the drugs but all drugs led to an increased number of defect structures in the liquid crystal. Furthermore the interlayer distance of the lamellar mesophase was reduced by a higher content of DS. In comparison with an RMS containing isopropylmyristate (IPM) instead of MCT, differences in the physicochemical properties of the drug-free RMS and in the influences of solubilized drugs were noticed.