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Design and Synthesis of Fluorosurfactants for Microfluidic Droplet-Based Bioapplications
Xiangke Li1, Cheng Zhang1, Huadong Peng1,2,3
1Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4067, Australia.
Polymer Science & Technology (Washington, D.C.)
|March 2, 2026
Summary
Advanced fluorosurfactants enhance droplet microfluidics for biological applications. Innovations like RAFT polymerization offer precise control, improving stability and biocompatibility for next-generation technologies.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Surfactants are essential for stabilizing interfaces and controlling fluid volumes in droplet microfluidics.
- Fluorosurfactant design focuses on head groups, tail architecture, and synthesis for optimal droplet system performance.
- Conventional polyethylene glycol (PEG)-perfluoropolyether (PFPE) architectures are being surpassed by novel alternatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advances in fluorosurfactant design for droplet-based microfluidics.
- To highlight emerging alternatives and their potential to advance the field.
- To emphasize the role of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in developing advanced fluorosurfactants.
Main Methods:
- Survey of recent literature on fluorosurfactant design and synthesis.
- Focus on reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization for molecular control.
- Integration of responsive monomers such as N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), 2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl acrylate (DMAEA), and zwitterionic monomers.
Main Results:
- RAFT polymerization enables precise molecular control and tunable properties of fluorosurfactants.
- Responsive functionalities improve droplet stability, reduce molecular exchange, and enhance biocompatibility.
- Advanced fluorosurfactants show significant utility in high-throughput screening, digital PCR, single-cell genomics, and cell encapsulation.
Conclusions:
- Innovations in fluorosurfactant design, particularly using RAFT polymerization, are crucial for advancing microfluidics.
- These advanced surfactants offer enhanced performance under challenging conditions, expanding microfluidic applications.
- They provide a foundation for next-generation microfluidic technologies requiring robust compartmentalization with minimal biological interference.
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