The disclosure pertains to cascade polymer complexes containing the following: a) complex-forming ligands of general formula (I), in which A is a nitrogen-containing cascade nucleus of basic multiplicity a; X and Y independently of one another stand for a direct bond or a cascade reproduction unit of reproduction multiplicity x or y; Z and W independently of one another stand for cascade reproduction units of reproduction multiplicity z or w; K is the remainder of a complex forming agent; a stands for a number between 2 and 12; x, y, z and w independently of one another stand for numbers between 1 and 4, a condition being that at least two reproduction units are different and that the product of the multiplicities obeys the expression 16 <= a x y z w <= 64; b) at least 16 ions of an element of atomic number 20-29, 39, 42, 44 or 57-83; c) optionally cations of inorganic and/or organic bases, amino acids or amino acid amides; and d) optionally acylated terminal amino groups. |