Functionalization of PAMAM dendrimers with curcumin: Synthesis, characterization, fluorescent improvement and application on PET polymer

Environmentally friendly and healthier demands of people lead to grow the application of the natural dyes, although some difficulties limit their usages. This means that overcoming these issues will suggest the exchange of synthetic dyes having many environmental problems with natural dyes. In the current study, to develop the natural dyes, we have enhanced the fluorescence intensity of yellow-emitting curcumin dye, by its covalently bonding to PAMAM dendrimer from G0, G1, G2 generations. The chemical structures of modified materials have been confirmed by FTIR, (HNMR)-H-1, (CNMR)-C-13, UV-Vis, DSC and Elemental Analysis techniques. The synthesized compounds have been used for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics dyeing at high temperature to study their color characteristics. On the other hand, the spectral characteristics of dendrimers have been evaluated in organic solvents with different polarity. The influence of dendrimer generation on the fluorescence intensity and quantum yield has also been described. The results showed that the new dendrimers can be used for PET fabrics coloration.