ABSTRACT
A great number of aqueous-based systems in nature and commerce contain one or more polymer and surfactant in the same solution or suspension. There are many changes in solution and surface properties which occur as a result of polymer/surfactant interactions. Since polymers and surfactants can associate in solution, it would not be surprising if they could influence each other's solubility as well as that of a third component. Early work by protein chemists, referred to in the chapters on proteins, had revealed that the properties of proteins in solution could be substantially changed by addition of ionic surfactants. The fact that, in the presence of polymer, aggregates of surfactant can form at concentrations lower than the critical micelle concentration means that the maximum monomer concentration of surfactant is reduced. The presence of sodium dodecylsulfate and other anionic surfactants was found, in most cases, to prolong the time of release of drug from a tablet containing hydroxypropyl cellulose.
