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Abstract

The present invention involves a series of articles, compositions, methods, and kits. Some aspects of the invention include articles such as particles, sols, blends, dispersions, films, or microarrays that comprise luminescent polymers, as well as methods for making and using such articles. In some cases, the luminescent polymer may be characterized in part by having a delocalized .pi.-orbital structure, which can allow the polymer to have a high degree of luminosity. The polymers of this invention may also have, in some embodiments, bulky substituents to prevent intermolecular .pi.-.pi. interactions that can decrease luminosity. Some articles may include more than one luminescent polymer, for example, a first polymer that absorbs energy and directs the energy to a second polymer that releases the energy. The articles of the invention may be used, in certain embodiments, to detect the presence of other compounds such as single molecules, proteins, or specific nucleic acid sequences, as well as cells, bacteria, and viruses. In one set of embodiments, the luminescent polymers are associated with an entity that can interact with, for example, a nucleic acid or a protein. The association may be direct, or through an energy transfer pathway. The entity can be, for example, a nucleic acid, a charged surface, an intercalating agent, or an entity that releases a quenching agent that interacts with the luminescent polymer.

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First Claim