In one embodiment of the present invention, a block copolymer with a
hydrophilic region and a semifluorinated region is synthesized and mixed,
below a critical micellar concentration, with a fluorinated drug, and the
temperature then lowered, or the block-copolymer concentration then
increased, or other solution conditions changed, in order to form
fluorous-core, drug-encapsulating micelles. Alternatively, a drug may be
taken up by already formed micelles in solution. A suspension of the
fluorous-core, fluorinated-drug-encapsulating micelles is injected into
the bloodstream to deliver the fluorinated drug to target tissues and
organs. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a block
copolymer with a hydrophilic block, a hydrophobic block, and a
semifluorinated block is used to form fluorous-core, drug-encapsulating
micelles. In a third embodiment, a block copolymer with a hydrophilic
block, a semifluorinated block, and a hydrophobic block is used to form
hydrophobic-core, drug-encapsulating micelles. In additional embodiments,
block copolymers with various types of blocks are synthesized and
employed to form micelles with interior shell and core regions suitable
for encapsulating specific target compounds for a variety of purposes.