A system for detecting a target in a sample, said system comprising: • a plurality of anchoring oligonucleotides each having a nucleic acid sequence, a first end and a second free end; • a first substrate having a surface associated with, at a plurality of discrete locations, each of the first end of the plurality of anchoring oligonucleotides; wherein the first substrate is capable of creating, modulating or conducting a signal upon the hydridizing of the signaling oligonucleotide with an anchoring oligonucleotide; and • a plurality of signaling oligonucleotides, wherein each of the signaling oligonucleotide: ∘ has a core nucleic acid sequence which is substantially complementary to a region of each of the anchoring oligonucleotides and is capable of hybridizing with the anchoring oligonucleotide; ∘ has a first end being associated with a moiety for binding a macromolecular entity; ∘ has a second end being associated with a reporter moiety; and ∘ is configured such that, upon hybridizing with the anchoring oligonucleotide, the second end of the signaling oligonucleotide is located in the vicinity of the first end of the anchoring oligonucleotide; wherein the density of the plurality of anchoring oligonucleotides on the first substrate prevents or limits the formation of a complex between at least one anchoring oligonucleotide, at least one signaling oligonucleotide and the macromolecular entity at two adjacent locations on the first substrate; wherein the target is the macromolecular entity or is capable of specifically binding to the macromolecular entity; and wherein when the target is capable of specifically binding to the macromolecular entity: (i) the system further comprises the macromolecular entity which, upon the binding of the target, is no longer capable of binding to the plurality of signaling oligonucleotides, and (ii) the moiety for binding the macromolecular entity of the plurality of signaling oligonucleotides is the target. • a plurality of anchoring oligonucleotides each having a nucleic acid sequence, a first end and a second free end; • a first substrate having a surface associated with, at a plurality of discrete locations, each of the first end of the plurality of anchoring oligonucleotides; wherein the first substrate is capable of creating, modulating or conducting a signal upon the hydridizing of the signaling oligonucleotide with an anchoring oligonucleotide; and • a plurality of signaling oligonucleotides, wherein each of the signaling oligonucleotide: ∘ has a core nucleic acid sequence which is substantially complementary to a region of each of the anchoring oligonucleotides and is capable of hybridizing with the anchoring oligonucleotide; ∘ has a first end being associated with a moiety for binding a macromolecular entity; ∘ has a second end being associated with a reporter moiety; and ∘ is configured such that, upon hybridizing with the anchoring oligonucleotide, the second end of the signaling oligonucleotide is located in the vicinity of the first end of the anchoring oligonucleotide; ∘ has a core nucleic acid sequence which is substantially complementary to a region of each of the anchoring oligonucleotides and is capable of hybridizing with the anchoring oligonucleotide; ∘ has a first end being associated with a moiety for binding a macromolecular entity; ∘ has a second end being associated with a reporter moiety; and ∘ is configured such that, upon hybridizing with the anchoring oligonucleotide, the second end of the signaling oligonucleotide is located in the vicinity of the first end of the anchoring oligonucleotide; <EOS>