Synthesis and biocompatibility evaluation of fluorinated, single-tailed glucopyranoside surfactants

Partially fluorinated non-ionic surfactants are of interest for a range of biomedical applications, such as the pulmonary administration of drugs using reverse water-in-perfluorocarbon microemulsions. We herein report the synthesis and characterization of a series of partially fluorinated β-d- glucopyranoside surfactants from the respective alcohols and peracetylated β-d-glucopyranoside using BF₃·Et₂O as catalyst. The surfactant packing parameter of the fluorinated surfactants ranged from 0.472 to 0.534 (MOPAC calculations) or 0.562 to 0.585 (calculated from literature values), which is comparable to surfactants with a similar partially fluorinated tail. Based on an initial biocompatibility assessment, the β-d-glucopyranoside surfactants have low toxicities in the B16F10 mouse melanoma cell line and comparatively low haemolytic activities towards rabbit red blood cells. The fluorinated surfactants appear to be less toxic towards cells in culture and to have a lower haemolytic activity compared to their hydrocarbon analogs. Furthermore, an increasing degree of fluorination appears to reduce both the cytotoxicity and the haemolytic activity. Similar structure-activity relationships have been reported for other partially fluorinated surfactants. Overall, these findings suggest that the surfactants may be useful for biomedical applications, such as novel drug delivery systems.