Abstract
Microemulsion represents an attractive platform for fundamental and applied biomedical research because the emulsified droplets can serve as millions of compartmentalized micrometer-sized reactors amenable to high-throughput screening or online monitoring. However, establishing stable emulsions with surfactants that are compatible with biological applications remains a significant challenge. Motivated by the lack of commercially available surfactants suitable for microemulsion-based biological assays, this study describes the facile synthesis of a biocompatible fluorosurfactant with nonionic tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl (Tris) polar head groups. We have further demonstrated compatibility of the developed surfactant with diverse emulsion-based applications, including DNA polymeric nanoparticle synthesis, enzymatic activity assay, and bacterial or mammalian cell culture, in the setup of both double- and multiphases of emulsions.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Biocompatible Materials / chemical synthesis*
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Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
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Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
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Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
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DNA / chemistry
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DNA / metabolism
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DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / metabolism
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Emulsions
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Enzyme Assays
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Ethers / chemical synthesis*
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Ethers / chemistry*
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Ethers / pharmacology
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Fluorocarbons / chemical synthesis*
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Fluorocarbons / chemistry*
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Fluorocarbons / pharmacology
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Halogenation
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Humans
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Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
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Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects
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Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
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Surface-Active Agents / chemical synthesis*
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Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*
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Surface-Active Agents / pharmacology
Substances
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Biocompatible Materials
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Emulsions
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Ethers
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Fluorocarbons
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Surface-Active Agents
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perfluoropolyether
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DNA
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DNA Topoisomerases, Type I