Thiolated DAB dendrimers and CdSe quantum dots nanocomposites for Cd(II) or Pb(II) sensing

► Four different generation of thiol-DAB dendrimers were synthesized. ► Fluorescent nanocomposites of the thiol-DAB dendrimers with CdSe quantum dots were obtained. ► The fluorescent S-DAB-G5-CdSe nanocomposites are sensors for Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions.