Microemulsions of perfluorinated and semi-fluorinated compounds

Abstract

Perfluorocarbons combine high gas dissolving capacities with extreme chemical and biological inertness: they are good oxygen carriers in artificial blood and in liquid breathing. However fluorocarbons are highly hydrophobic molecules. To solve the problem of their transport, it is necessary to use the perfluorocarbons as an oil-in water emulsion (O/W). To avoid harsh treatment to form such emulsions and in order to have injectable "blood substitutes", microemulsions seem particularly attractive since they are fluid, transparent, thermodynamically stable microheterogeneous systems. Microemulsions, contrarily to classical emulsions, are formed spontaneously by adding suitable surfactants (or a surfactant+a cosurfactant) in appropriate proportions to a non miscible mixture of water and oil. Biocompatible O/W microemulsions are difficult to obtain because of: 1) the existing segregation between perfluorinated and hydrogenated chains, resulting, in some cases in heterogeneities or gelation phases; 2) the toxicity of some components; 3) the possible harmfulness of the dispersed system, etc... We'll discuss all the parameters involved of the microemulsification process, the nature of products, the phase diagrams, and the phase behaviors. This study will outline certain guidelines necessary for the formation of microemulsions of perfluorinated (or almost completely fluorinated) oils with perfluorinated (or partially fluorinated) surfactants.