Synthesis and Fluorescent Properties of Biodegradable Hyperbranched Poly(amido amine)s.

Disulfide-functionalized hyperbranched poly(amido amine)s (HPAMAMs) were synthesized by Michael addition polymerization of N,N'-cystaminebisacrylamide and 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine. The novel HPAMAMs displayed bright fluorescence, and the emissions bands cover nearly the whole visible wavelength range. When polymer solutions were excited at 330-385, 460-490, and 510-550 nm, blue, green, and red solutions were observed, respectively. The HPAMAMs are biodegradable and they can be easily cleaved by 2-mercaptoethanol or glutathione, leading to a decrease in the fluorescence intensity. Studies of applications of the biocompatible and biodegradable HPAMAMs in fluorescence imaging technology and biological science are in progress.