Collective optical behavior of cationic water-soluble dendrimers

Water-soluble dendrimers containing cationic charges and optically active units on the periphery of the macromolecular structure have been designed. Collective optical behavior of the chromophores on the surface was demonstrated by fluorescence quenching and energy-transfer experiments. These water-soluble dendrimers can be used for optically amplified DNA detection (see Figure and also cover) in homogeneous media.