Detection of analytes in aqueous environments

Abstract

The invention relates to indicator molecules for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a medium, such as a liquid, and to methods for achieving such detection. More particularly, the invention relates to copolymer macromolecules containing relatively hydrophobic indicator component monomers, and hydrophilic monomers, such that the macromolecule is capable of use in an aqueous environment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A macromolecule which is capable of exhibiting an excimer effect, which comprises a copolymer of: 
 a) one or more excimer forming monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other; and    b) one or more other monomers;    such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect.    
     
     
         2 . The macromolecule of  claim 1 , wherein the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte.  
     
     
         3 . The macromolecule of  claim 2 , wherein 
 a) the excimer forming monomer individually is not sufficiently water soluble to permit its use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte; and    b) the other monomer is a hydrophilic monomer; such that the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment.    
     
     
         4 . The macromolecule of  claim 2 , wherein the excimer effect does not substantially change in response to changes in the presence or concentration of the analyte.  
     
     
         5 . The macromolecule of  claim 4 , wherein 
 i) the molar ratio of other monomer:excimer forming momomer is from about 2:1 to about 15:1,    ii) the excimer forming monomer comprises an N-(o-boronobenzyl)amino]methyl]anthracene derivative, and    iii) the other monomer comprises [3-(methacryloylamino)-propyl]trimethylammonium chloride.    
     
     
         6 . The macromolecule of  claim 1 , wherein the excimer forming monomer is selected from the group consisting of a lanthanide chelate and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon.  
     
     
         7 . A method for producing a macromolecule which is capable of exhibiting an excimer effect, which method comprises copolymerizing: 
 a) one or more excimer forming monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other; and    b) one or more other monomers;    such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein 
 a) the excimer forming monomer individually is not sufficiently water soluble to permit its use in an aqueous environment for detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte; and    b) the other monomer is a hydrophilic monomer; such that the macromolecule is capable of detecting the presence or concentration of said analyte in an aqueous environment.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the excimer effect does not substantially change in response to changes in the presence or concentration of the analyte.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein 
 i) the molar ratio of other monomer:excimer forming momomer is from about 2:1 to about 15:1,    ii) the excimer forming monomer comprises an N-(o-boronobenzyl)amino]methyl]anthracene derivative, and    iii) the other monomer comprises [3-(methacryloylamino)-propyl]trimethylammonium chloride.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the excimer forming monomer is selected from the group consisting of a lanthanide chelate and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon.