Fate of anticancer drug ellipticine in reverse micelles in aqueous and methanolic environment: A photophysical approach

► Entrapment of anticancer drug, ellipticine has been studied in AOT reverse micelles. ► Addition of water to AOT/hexane system converts neutral ellipticine into cationic species. ► Raidative rate constant and quantum yield increase due to formation of cationic species with increase in water content. ► Addition of methanol converts cationic ellipticine into neutral species. ► No solvent assisted proton transfer takes place in AOT/hydrocarbon/methanol system.