Fluorescence Spectral Study of the Solubilization of 1, 10-Phenanthroline In Micellar Surfactant Solution

Micellar solubilization is a powerful alternative for dissolving hydrophobic compounds in aqueous environment. Fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy are the two techniques used to monitor the micellar solubilization studies of 1,10-phenanthroline. 1,10-Phenanthroline is a heterocyclic organic compounds. It is a bidantate ligand and is commonly used as a chelating agent for metal ions. It's complexes with Co, Cu, Fe and Zn are widely used for antifungal and antimicrobial activity. The emission intensity of 1,10-phenanthroline is significantly enhanced in nonionic and anionic micellar media. The solubilizing action of the surfactant has also been determined by theoretical calculated spectral parameters like empirical fluorescence coefficient, quantum yield, molar absorption coefficient and stokes' shift value. The fluorescence as well as the theoretically calculated spectral data has been used to characterize the heteroenvironment of the micelles in terms of their polarity, probe solubilization site and critical micellar concentration (CMC). This article briefly discusses the importance of surfactants in biological system model as well as the use of micelles in pharmacy as an important tool that finds numerous applications.