Patent ID: 8802450

Claim:
A multichromophore complex for identifying a target cell protein comprising: a multichromophore comprising a water-soluble, light harvesting π conjugated polymer comprising substituted or unsubstituted multiple units in a π conjugated state wherein each unit has the structure: and a linker having a bioconjugation site, an antibody covalently linked to the multichromophore by the bioconjugation site on the linker of the π conjugated polymer, an optional signaling chromophore covalently bound to the multichromophore or covalently bound to the antibody, wherein the optional signaling chromophore is capable of receiving energy from the multichromophore upon excitation of the multichromophore and wherein the antibody is capable of recognizing cells with the target cell protein expressed and specifically bind to the protein, wherein A is independently an aromatic, heteroaromatic, optionally substituted conjugated polymer segment or oligomeric structure, and where at least one A is a phenyl linked to the linker, wherein R 1 is a water solubilizing group, wherein * is a site for π conjugation and wherein said water solubilizing group is elected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol oligomers, ethylene glycol polymers, ω-ammonium alkyl salts, ω-ammonium alkoxy salts, ω-ammonium oligoether salts, ω-sulfonate alkyl salts, ω-sulfonate alkoxy salts, and ω-sulfonate oligoether salts and combinations thereof.