Fluorescent methods and materials for directed biomarker signal amplification

1. An assay method comprising:

providing a sample that is suspected of containing a target biomolecule;

providing a multichromophore complex comprising:

a multichromophore comprising a water-soluble, light harvesting π conjugated polymer comprising substituted or unsubstituted multiple units in a π conjugated state wherein each unit has the structure:

and a linker having a bioconjugation site,

a sensor biomolecule covalently linked to the multichromophore by the bioconjugation site on the conjugated polymer,

an optional signaling chromophore covalently bound to the multichromophore or covalently bound to the sensor biomolecule,

wherein the optional signaling chromophore is capable of receiving energy from the multichromophore upon excitation of the multichromophore and

wherein the sensor biomolecule is capable of recognizing the target biomolecule,

wherein A is independently an aromatic, heteroaromatic, optionally substituted conjugated polymer segment or oligomeric structure, and where at least one A is a phenyl linked to the linker,

wherein R 1 is a water solubilizing group elected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol oligomers, ethylene glycol polymers, ω-ammonium alkyl salts, ω-ammonium alkoxy salts, ω-ammonium oligoether salts, ω-sulfonate alkyl salts, ω-sulfonate alkoxy salts, and ω-sulfonate oligoether salts and combinations thereof, and

wherein * is a site for π conjugation;

contacting the sample that is with the multichromophore complex under conditions in which the sensor biomolecule can bind to the target biomolecule or a target-associated biomolecule if present;

applying a light source to the sample that can excite the multichromophore; and detecting whether light is emitted from the multichromophore complex.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor biomolecule is a protein, peptide, affinity ligand, antibody, antibody fragment, sugar, lipid, nucleic acid or an aptamer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor biomolecule is an antibody.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor biomolecule is an anti-digoxigenin antibody.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor biomolecule is a goat-anti-mouse antibody or a donkey-anti-mouse antibody.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of an avidin, streptavidin, neutravidin, avidinDN, and avidinD.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor biomolecule is bound to a substrate.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multichromophore complex configured for flow cytometry.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multichromophore complex further comprises additional labeled sensor biomolecules for monitoring different target biomolecules simultaneously using one excitation wavelength.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target biomolecule is a target protein expressed on a cell surface.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multichromophore complex is configured for a sandwich immunoassay, protein array or microarray.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multichromophore complex is configured for immunohistochemistry or FISH.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multichromophore complex is configured for PCR.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling chromophore is covalently bound to the multichromophore.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling chromophore is covalently bound to the sensor biomolecule.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling chromophore is a dye.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of fluorescein, 6-FAM, rhodamine, Texas Red, tetramethylrhodamine, a carboxyrhodamine, carboxyrhodamine 6G, carboxyrhodol, carboxyrhodamine 110, Cascade Blue, Cascade Yellow, coumarin, Cy2®, Cy3®, Cy3.5®, Cy5®, Cy5.5®, Cy-Chrome, phycoerythrin, PerCP (peridinin chlorophyll-a Protein), PerCP-Cy5.5, JOE (6-carboxy-4′,5′-dichloro-2′,7′-dimethoxyfluorescein), NED, ROX (5-(and -6)-carboxy-X-rhodamine), HEX, Lucifer Yellow, Marina Blue, Oregon Green 488, Oregon Green 500, Oregon Green 514, Alexa Fluor® 350, Alexa Fluor® 430, Alexa Fluor® 488, Alexa Fluor® 532, Alexa Fluor® 546, Alexa Fluor® 568, Alexa Fluor® 594, Alexa Fluor® 633, Alexa Fluor® 647, Alexa Fluor® 660, Alexa Fluor® 680, 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin-3-acetic acid, BODIPY® FL, BODIPY® FL-Br 2 , BODIPY® 530/550, BODIPY® 558/568, BODIPY® 564/570, BODIPY® 576/589, BODIPY® 581/591, BODIPY® 630/650, BODIPY® 650/665, BODIPY® R6G, BODIPY® TMR, BODIPY® TR, conjugates thereof, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of rhodamine, coumarin, cyanine, xanthene, polymethine, pyrene, dipyrromethene borondifluoride, napthalimide, phycobiliprotein, peridinium chlorophyll proteins, conjugates thereof, and combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor biomolecule to multichromophore covalent linkage comprises a linking chemistry selected from the group consisting of maleimide, thiol, succimidylester (NHS ester), amine, azide, carboxylate, carboxy/EDC (1-Ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide Hydrochloride), Sulfo-SMCC (Sulfosuccinimidyl 4-[N-maleimidomethyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylate), BMPH(N-[.beta.-Maleimidopropionic acid]hydrazide), and Sulfo-SBED Sulfosuccinimydyl[2-6-(biotinamido)-2-(p-azidobenzamido)-hexanoamido]-eth--yl-1,3′-dithiopropionate.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multichromophore comprises an additional bioconjugation site.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein an additional sensor biomolecule is covalently linked by the additional bioconjugation site.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bioconjugation site covalently links to the sensor biomolecule and signaling chromophore.