Emulsified perfluorochemicals for oxygenation of microbial cell cultures?

PFCs and their emulsions may have value for increasing the efficiency of O2-transport to microbial cultures. Therefore, the effects of emulsion components on growth of S. cerevisiae and E. coli have been examined. Viable cell counts revealed that perfluorodecalin or the commercial emulsion, Fluosol-DA 20%, produced no obvious growth-inhibition over 6h. However, incubation of cells with up to 10% of the Pluronic F-68 surfactant reduced absorbance at 600nm. Further experiments to assess the effects of PFC emulsion components on growth and structure of microbial cells are in progress.