A conformationally flexible cationic conjugated polymer having the structure: wherein: CP1, CP2, CP3 and CP4 are optionally substituted conjugated polymer segments or oligomeric structures, and may be the same or different from one another; LU1 and LU2 are each an angled linker forming a bond angle to two adjacent polymeric units of less than 155°, and are each a mono- or polycyclic optionally substituted aryl group having 5 to 20 atoms; CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4, LU1 and LU2 are each optionally substituted at one or more positions with one or more groups selected from -R1-A, R2-B, R3-C and R4-D, and may be attached through bridging functional groups -E-and -F-, with the proviso that the polymer as a whole must be substituted with a plurality of cationic groups; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, alkynyl, and aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, and polyalkylene oxide, each optionally substituted, and which may contain one or more heteroatoms, or may be not present; A, B, C and D are independently selected from H, -SiR'R"R"', - N + R'R"R"', a guanidinium group, histidine, a polyamine, a pyridinium group, and a sulfonium group; R', R", and R"' are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-12 alkyl and C1-12 alkoxy and C3-10 cycloalkyl; E and F are independently selected from not present, -O-, -S-, -C, - C O-, -C (R')-, -N(R')-, and -Si(R')(R");wherein R' and R" are as defined above; m and n are independently 0 to 10,000, wherein m+n>1; b and e are independently 0 to 250, wherein b+e>1; a, c, d and f are independently 0 to 250; and G and G1 are capping units and may be the same or different, and are selected from activated units that allow further chemical reaction to extend the polymer chain, and nonactivated termination units. CP1, CP2, CP3 and CP4 are optionally substituted conjugated polymer segments or oligomeric structures, and may be the same or different from one another; LU1 and LU2 are each an angled linker forming a bond angle to two adjacent polymeric units of less than 155°, and are each a mono- or polycyclic optionally substituted aryl group having 5 to 20 atoms; CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4, LU1 and LU2 are each optionally substituted at one or more positions with one or more groups selected from -R1-A, R2-B, R3-C and R4-D, and may be attached through bridging functional groups -E-and -F-, with the proviso that the polymer as a whole must be substituted with a plurality of cationic groups; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, alkynyl, and aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, and polyalkylene oxide, each optionally substituted, and which may contain one or more heteroatoms, or may be not present; A, B, C and D are independently selected from H, -SiR'R"R"', - N + R'R"R"', a guanidinium group, histidine, a polyamine, a pyridinium group, and a sulfonium group; R', R", and R"' are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-12 alkyl and C1-12 alkoxy and C3-10 cycloalkyl; E and F are independently selected from not present, -O-, -S-, -C, - C O-, -C (R')-, -N(R')-, and -Si(R')(R");wherein R' and R" are as defined above; m and n are independently 0 to 10,000, wherein m+n>1; b and e are independently 0 to 250, wherein b+e>1; a, c, d and f are independently 0 to 250; and G and G1 are capping units and may be the same or different, and are selected from activated units that allow further chemical reaction to extend the polymer chain, and nonactivated termination units.