Self-association behavior of amitriptyline hydrochloride as a function of temperature and additive (inorganic salts and ureas) concentration

The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of an amphiphilic drug amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT) was determined in the presence of varying amounts of inorganic salts (NaF, NaCl, NaBr, LiCl, KCl), urea and thiourea over the temperature range 293–308 K by conductometric and dye solubilization (ambient) techniques. The cmc values showed an inverted U-shaped behavior with temperature. In the presence of salts the cmc decreased which is explained on the basis of the nature and ion size. Urea and thiourea, at low concentrations (0.2 mM urea and 0.1 mM thiourea), decreased the cmc, whereas, at high concentrations, increase was observed with both the additives. Relevant thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated and discussed.