New fluorous gelators for perfluorodecalin

[Display omitted] •Fluorous gelators for perfluorodecalin (PFD) were synthesized.•Fluoroalkyl chains were introduced to the known gelators.•PFD turned into gel by using the fluoroalkyl-containing anthraquinone.•NIH 3T3 cells were cultured in the presence of prepared fluorous gels of PFD. Fluorous gels of perfluorodecalin (PFD) were prepared using chemically synthesized fluorous gelators. To enhance the fluorophilicity of gelators, fluoroalkyl chains were introduced to the alkyl chains of known gelators. The synthesized fluoroalkyl-containing anthraquinone formed gels of PFD. The prepared gel of PFD was used for cell culture and the cytotoxicity of the gel was assessed in view of its potential biomedical application.