A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE INTERACTION AND SOLUBILIZATION OF SOME HYDROPHOBIC DRUGS IN AMPHIPHILIC TRIBLOCK COPOLYMERS

This thesis systematically investigates the solubilization behavior of hydrophobic drugs in pluronic micelles and their mixed micellar systems to enhance aqueous solubility, drug delivery efficiency, and therapeutic performance. The work focuses on understanding the role of micellar architecture, mixed surfactant systems, and physicochemical parameters in optimizing drug encapsulation and release. The study begins by comparing the influence of the corona region (PEO length) of different pluronic micelles on the solubilization capacity and localization of oxcarbazepine (OXC), employing techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, ITC, ^1H NMR, DLS, and HPLC, alongside kinetic modeling of drug release. Subsequently, mixed micellar systems comprising pluronics and ionic bile salts are explored for clozapine (CLZ) solubilization, assessing parameters like drug loading efficiency, partition coefficient (P), and free energy of solubilization (ΔG°), supported by SANS, PXRD, and FTIR analyses. Further, the thesis examines pluronic–SAIL mixed micelles for quercetin (QCT) delivery, evaluating solubilization, release kinetics, and cytotoxicity against triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Temperature-dependent morphological transitions and their impact on lamotrigine (LAM) solubilization and release are studied using SANS, HTM, and DLS, demonstrating thermoresponsive control over drug delivery. Finally, mixed micelles of low and high molecular weight pluronics are investigated for CLZ and OXC delivery, highlighting enhanced antioxidant activity through multiple assays, suggesting potential applications in managing oxidative stress-related CNS disorders. Overall, this work provides critical insights into designing pluronic-based and mixed micellar systems for efficient hydrophobic drug delivery, offering strategies to improve solubility, stability, controlled release, and therapeutic efficac