Hydrophobin: fluorosurfactant-like properties without fluorine

The stabilization of fluorous oil droplets in aqueous environment is a critical issue in the preparation of emulsified systems for biomedical applications and in emulsion polymerization technology, due to the extreme immiscibility of aqueous and fluorous phases. We present here a detailed study on t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSoft matter Vol. 9; no. 28; pp. 6505 - 6514
Main Authors Milani, Roberto, Monogioudi, Evanthia, Baldrighi, Michele, Cavallo, Gabriella, Arima, Valentina, Marra, Lucia, Zizzari, Alessandra, Rinaldi, Ross, Linder, Markus, Resnati, Giuseppe, Metrangolo, Pierangelo
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.01.2013
Subjects
Aqueous environments
Circuits
Droplets
Emulsification
Phases
Stabilization
Surface chemistry
Surfactants
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Summary:The stabilization of fluorous oil droplets in aqueous environment is a critical issue in the preparation of emulsified systems for biomedical applications and in emulsion polymerization technology, due to the extreme immiscibility of aqueous and fluorous phases. We present here a detailed study on the behavior of the hydrophobin HFBI, i.e.a small natural protein endowed with exceptional surface activity, at the interface between aqueous and fluorous phases. HFBI behaves as an efficient and sustainable surfactant at remarkably low concentrations and forms a strong and elastic film at the interface between the two phases. We also show proof-of-concept experiments on the use of HFBI as a surfactant in fluorous oil/water emulsified systems and in microfluidic circuits.
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ISSN:1744-683X
1744-6848
DOI:10.1039/c3sm51262b