This Account summarizes recent advances in the chemistry of fluorocarbon nanoemulsion (FC NE) functionalization. We describe new families of fluorous molecules, such as chelators, fluorophores, and peptides, that are soluble in FC oils. These materials have helped transform the field of in vivo molecular imaging by enabling sensitive and cell-specific imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and fluorescence detection. FC emulsions, historically considered for artificial blood substitutes, are routinely used for ultrasound imaging in clinic and have a proven safety profile and a well-characterized biodistribution and pharmacokinetics. The inertness of fluorocarbons contributes to their low toxicity but makes functionalization difficult. The high electronegativity of fluorine imparts very low cohesive energy density and Lewis basicity to heavily fluorinated compounds, making dissolution of metal ions and organic molecules challenging. Functionalization is further complicated by colloidal instability toward heat and pH, as well as limited availability of biocompatible surfactants.

中文翻译：

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新兴荧光分子及其在分子成像中的应用

本报告总结了氟碳纳米乳液 (FC NE) 功能化化学的最新进展。我们描述了可溶于 FC 油的氟分子的新家族，例如螯合剂、荧光团和肽。这些材料帮助改变了体内研究领域通过使用磁共振成像 (MRI)、正电子发射断层扫描 (PET) 和荧光检测实现敏感和细胞特异性成像来实现分子成像。FC 乳液在历史上被认为是人造血液替代品，通常用于临床超声成像，并具有经过验证的安全性和良好表征的生物分布和药代动力学。碳氟化合物的惰性有助于它们的低毒性，但使功能化变得困难。氟的高电负性赋予高度氟化的化合物非常低的内聚能密度和路易斯碱度，使金属离子和有机分子的溶解具有挑战性。由于胶体对热和 pH 值的不稳定性以及生物相容性表面活性剂的可用性有限，官能化进一步复杂化。