Stearyl-group-terminated poly(ester amide) dendrimers [PEAD (R)(3) and PEAD (R)(8)] and a poly(amino amide) dendrimer [PAMAM (R)(4)] were synthesized by the amidation of three, eight, and four terminated primary amino groups in poly(ester amine) dendrimers and a poly(amino amide) dendrimer with stearyl chloride. The dendrimer structures were characterized with IR and elemental analysis. The toluene solutions of the stearyl-group-terminated dendrimers were thermosensitive. Not only did gels form in PEAD (R)(3)-, PEAD (R)(8)-, and PAMAM (R)(4)-toluene solutions below 57.5, 60, and 49 degrees C, respectively, but the content of toluene in the gels depended on the temperature, and a break existed at about 30 degrees C. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.