The binding of fluorescent probe molecules to poly(amidoamine) starburst dendrimers of generations G-0, G-1, and G-2 was investigated. The solubilizing capability of these new materials, in aqueous media, increases with increasing degree of their generation. Pyrene fluorescence however undergoes significant quenching in the solubilized state. In the higher generations, G-1 and G-2, excimer fluorescence was observed even at [pyrene]/[dendrimer] ratios as low as 10(-3).