A NEW CONCEPT IN THE STABILIZATION OF INJECTABLE FLUOROCARBON EMULSIONS: THE USE OF MIXED FLUOROCARBON-HYDROCARBON DOWELS.

ABSTRACT

A new means of stabilizing fluorocarbon in water emulsions is reported. It uses mixed fluorocarbon/hydrocarbon amphiphiles, acting as molecular dowels, to reinforce the binding between the fluorocarbon phase and its surrounding lipidic membrane. In an example, perfluorooctylbromide/phospholipid emulsions (90/4 % w/v) stabilized by C₈F₁₇CH=CHC₈H₁₇ (2.8 % w/v) remain stable, with no significant increase in particle sizes (after the initital equilibration period) for 9 months at 40^°C.