Diffusion in ternary aqueous {L-dopa + (NaSO3)n-β-cyclodextrin} solutions using the pseudo-binary approximation

Mass transport in (drug + cyclodextrin) solutions is investigated by using Taylor dispersion technique, monitored by differential refractometry, to measure ternary mutual diffusion in aqueous solutions of {L-dopa + (NaSO3)n-β-CD} (the sodium salt of sulfated β-cyclodextrin). The values of the binary mutual diffusion coefficients of both aqueous L-dopa and aqueous (NaSO3)n-β-CD solutions are close to each other differing only by a few per cent units. As a result, the eigenvalues for the matrix of the ternary Dik diffusion coefficients for aqueous {L-dopa(1) + (NaSO3)n-β-CD(2)} solutions are nearly identical, and the numerical analysis of the Taylor dispersion data may be ill-conditioned in view of the unreliable data obtained from their analysis. To overcome these difficulties, the pseudo-binary diffusion approximation is used to evaluate in a simple way this ternary system. The pseudo-binary diffusion coefficient values found, Dp1 and Dp2, are very close to the binary diffusion ones, being the cross-coefficients approached zero, within the experimental error. From the obtained results, and under the circumstances of this study, we may deduct that no interaction between L-dopa and NaSO3ßCD was determined.