Fluorescent Polymers – Markers for Biomedical Applications
G. CARAENE, M. ALBULESCU, R. ALBULESCU, M. MOSCOVICI, T. BURIANA, A. ALBULESCU, L. BUD

Abstract.
The development of luminescent polymers as markers for the study of biochemical and biological processes or as biomaterials for medicinal use is one of the main directions in organic luminofore research. For the present study we used pullulan, a polymer with special physical properties, functionalized with a dansyl-like luminofore which was synthetized for this purpose. The polymer was modified to contain organic functions capable of reacting with the dansyl derivative – N-methyl-N-(5-dimethylaminonaphtalene-1-sulphonyl)-ethanolamine (N-methyl-N-dansylethanolamine), obtained from the reaction of dansyl chloride and N-methylethanolamine. The fluorescence spectrum was determined in methanolic sollution, in order to establish the fluorescent properties of the synthetized derivative. Also, a pharmacological study was performed, in order to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the functionalized polymer. The results suggest that the substance is practically non-cytotoxic and therefore usable for a wide area of biological applications.