Development　of　biodegradable　and　highly　biocompatible　polymer　with　intrinsical　photoluminescence　and　high　photostability　for　real-time　live　cell　bioimaging　has　attracted　much　attention　recently.　Here,　a　biodegradable　and　amphiphilic　poly　(citrate)-co-poly　(ethylene　glycol)　(PEG)　grafted　with　arginine　(PCGA)　polymer　with　intrinsical　fluorescence　was　synthesized　for　targeted　live　cell　bioimaging.　The　physicochemical　structure,　photoluminescent　properties,　hemocompatibility,　cytotoxicity,　and　fluorescent　bioimaging　studies　in　live　cells　were　determined　in　detail.　PCGA　showed　a　significantly　high　hemocompatibility,　low　cytotoxicity,　and　excellent　photostability,　which　allows　for　imaging　the　live　cells　attachment　and　proliferation.　Furthermore,　PCGA　could　efficiently　enhance　cell　attachment　and　proliferation　due　to　the　presence　of　arginine,　suggesting　their　high　cellular　biocompatibility.　Importantly,　PCGA　could　selectively　stain　the　lysosome　in　cells.　Our　results　demonstrated　that　the　amino　acid-based　polymer　functionalization　may　be　an　important　strategy　to　develop　multifunctional　biomaterials　with　enhanced　biocompatibility　for　targeted　bioimaging,　cancer　therapy,　and　regenerative　medicine.　©　2018　The　Authors.　Journal　Of　Biomedical　Materials　Research　Part　A　Published　By　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc　J　Biomed　Mater　Res　Part　A:　2018.