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ABSTRACT
In view of their easy preparation, the physicochemical properties of a series of highly fluorinated cationic (ammonium salts), zwitterionic (carboxybetaines) or nonionic (amine oxide) surfactants derived from perfluoroalkylated tertiary amines were investigated. Their solubility in water, interfacial properties and the exceptionally low hemolytic activity of the zwitterionic series mark them out as potential surfactants or co-surfactants for the preparation of fluorocarbon emulsions and other preparations for biomedical use. Fine and moderately concentrated fluorocarbon emulsions (50 w/w% in fluorocarbon) could be obtained in some cases when they were used as the sole surfactant. However, none was found suitable for preparing concentrated emulsions (90 w/v% in fluorocarbon) and no appreciable stabilization was found when they were used as co-surfactants with egg yolk phospholipids.