PERFLUOROALKYLATED TELOMERS DERIVED FROM TRIS(HYDROXYMETHYL)ACRYLAMIDOMETHANE AS SURFACTANTS AND CO-SURFACTANTS IN FLUOROCARBON EMULSIONS

The ability of perfluoroalkylated telomers derived from tris(hydroxyme thyl) acrylamidomethane (TAC) to stabilize fluorocarbon emulsions has been investigated. For this purpose, 50% w/v emulsions of perfluorodec alin (FDC) and perfluoro-octyl bromide (PFOB) were prepared with a tot al 3% w/v of surfactant and were compared with emulsions prepared with Pluronic F-68 degrees or egg yolk phospholipids (EYP). When used as t he sole surfactant, telomers 1 (TAG with a C6F13 chain and a number av erage degree of polymerization n similar to 6) and 2 (C(8)F(17)TAC, n similar to 6) produced FDC emulsions that were more stable than with P luronic F-68 alone; when compared to EYP no improvement was found. Whe n associated to other, less hydrophilic perfluoroalkylated surfactants , such as the monoadduct 3 (C(6)F(13)TAC, n=1) or [1-O-(perfluoro-octy l)-2'-propenyl]xylitol (4), for certain formulations these telomers re sulted in somewhat enhanced stabilization of both FDC and PFOB emulsio ns. In some cases, the emulsions were as stable as those prepared with EYP alone. When telomer 1 was used as a co-emulsifier with EYP, no no ticeable stabilization was observed; with Pluronic F-68 emulsion stabi lity was reduced.