Patent ID: 8101416

Claim:
An assay method comprising: i. providing a sample that is suspected of comprising a target polynucleotide; ii. providing a conjugated polymer that upon excitation is capable of transferring energy to a signaling chromophore when in proximity thereto; iii. providing a sensor peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and a signaling chromophore, wherein the sensor PNA is single-stranded and is complementary to the target polynucleotide; iv. contacting the sample, the sensor PNA and signaling chromophore and the conjugated polymer in a solution under conditions in which the sensor PNA can hybridize to the target polynucleotide, if present; and v. determining if the sensor PNA and target polynucleotide have hybridized by detecting if light is produced from the signaling chromophore upon excitation of the conjugated polymer, indicating that the conjugated polymer and signaling chromophore are in proximity and associated with the target polynucleotide.