Nanotechnology has become a rapidly growing field as the demand for portable electronics, mobile diagnostic tools, and multifunctional therapeutics increases. Key components to many of these nanodevices are nanoparticles (NPs), and consequently, a variety of NP formulations have been studied with a wide range of accolades and limitations. Here we introduce fluorous nanoemulsions as an additional platform for nanoscale engineering. Fluorous nanoemulsions, first formulated in the 1970s for use as artificial blood, are composed of a fluorous solvent core stabilized by a hydrophilic polymer surfactant. We have found these nanoemulsions to be simple to prepare and highly customizable. By exploiting the fluorous ponytail concept developed for fluorous phase synthesis, we are able to direct an array of small molecules to the center of the nanoemulsions. The localization was confirmed through the synthesis of fluorous-tagged fluorophores and subsequent energy transfer and microscopy studies of nanoemulsions containing these compounds. Additionally, we have developed three methods to functionalize the outside of the nanoemulsions: pre-modification of the polymer surfactant, in situ modification of poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) with amines, or noncovalent modification of poly(�-cyclodextrin) stabilized nanoemulsions with adamantyl compounds. Using these strategies, a wide range of nanoemulsions can be prepared with varying size, charge and chemical functionality. We envision these nanoemulsions to be versatile materials and their use in water purification, solution-phase sensing, spray-on electronics, and bioimaging is underway.

Readily accessible multifunctional fluorous nanoemulsions

248th National Meeting (2014)

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