Patent ID: 7671184

Claim:
A hairpin oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide analogue comprising: a first sequence consisting of n nucleotides and/or nucleotide analogues and two or more aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems P linked to the oligonucleotide backbone and able to form an excimer or exciplex or exciplex, wherein at least two of the aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems P are in neighboring positions; a second sequence consisting of an oligonucleotide probe able to hybridize with a target polynucleotide; and a third sequence consisting of m nucleotides and/or nucleotide analogues and one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems X linked to the oligonucleotide backbone, wherein said first and third sequence can form a stem of said hairpin oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide analogue and wherein at least one aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system X interacts with said at least two aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems P of the first sequence when said stem is formed to inhibit excimer or exciplex formation.