Patent ID: 8546081

Claim:
A method of assaying a sample for an aggregant, the method comprising: providing an aggregation sensor soluble in a polar medium, the aggregation sensor comprising (a) a polymer comprising a plurality of first optically active units forming a conjugated system, having a first absorption wavelength at which the first optically active units absorb light to form an excited state that can emit light of a first emission wavelength, and a plurality of solubilizing functionalities; and (b) one or more second optically active units that can receive energy from the excited state of the first optically active unit; said aggregation sensor comprising at least three first optically active units per second optically active unit, wherein a solution of the aggregation sensor emits detectably less light at the first emission wavelength when the concentration of first optically active units within energy-transferring distance of at least one second optically active unit is increased; combining the aggregation sensor and the sample in solution, wherein the aggregation sensor is present at a concentration at which there is detectable emission at the first emission wavelength in the absence of sample; contacting the aggregation sensor with light of the first absorption wavelength; and detecting whether the optical properties of the aggregation sensor are altered in the presence of the sample, wherein the second optically active unit is grafted to the conjugated system and forms part of the conjugated system.