Patent ID: 8501399

Claim:
A method for detecting a target molecule, comprising, exposing a sample suspected of containing said target molecule to a conjugate comprising a modified randomly branched polymer without a core comprising a functional group for branch formation, wherein said randomly branched polymer without a core comprises chain branches, terminal branches or both, and said randomly branched polymer without a core comprises random, asymmetric branches and random, asymmetric branch junctions, and a bioactive agent; wherein (a) (i) said bioactive agent specifically binds to said target molecule or (ii) said bioactive agent comprises a first member of a first binding pair, and said sample previously was exposed to a second member of a second binding pair, wherein said second member of said second binding pair specifically binds said target molecule and comprises a second member of said first binding pair, and determining whether complexes of said conjugate and said target molecule are formed; or (b) each of said bioactive agent and said target molecule is a first member of a binding pair and each of said bioactive agent and said target molecule compete for binding to a second member of said binding pair, and determining whether complexes of said conjugate and said second member of said binding pair are formed.