Perfluorocarbon emulsions cytotoxic effects on human fibroblasts and effect of aging on particle size distribution

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize emulsion preparations made of perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) and egg yolk phospholipid (EYP) and their cytotoxicity. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy revealed that freshly prepared emulsions stored at different temperatures for a 24-h period have a unimodal particle size distribution with an average particle size of ca. 200 nm. The emulsion displayed a broader particle size distribution following a 14-day storage. Primary human fibroblasts exposure to PFOB/EYP emulsions permanently inhibited cell proliferation and decreased mitochondrial activity. Scanning electron microscopy pictures reveal the presence of spherical particles on the fibroblasts following exposure to the emulsions after thorough rinsing with culture media.