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 method for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample, said method comprising: 
 a) exposing the sample to an indicator macromolecule, said macromolecule comprising a copolymer of: 
 i) one or more indicator component monomers, the molecules of which are capable of exhibiting an excimer effect when suitably oriented with respect to each other, and which are also capable of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte; and  
 ii) one or more other monomers;  
 such that the resulting macromolecule exhibits said excimer effect, and wherein the indicator macromolecule has a detectable quality that changes in a concentration-dependent manner when said macromolecule is exposed to said analyte; and  
   b) measuring any change in said detectable quality to thereby determine the presence or concentration of said analyte in said sample.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the excimer effect does not substantially change in response to changes in the presence or concentration of the analyte.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein 
 i) the molar ratio of other monomer:indicator component momomer is from about 2:1 to about 15:1,    ii) the indicator component monomer comprises an N-(o-boronobenzyl)amino]methyl]anthracene derivative, and    iii) the other monomer comprises [3-(methacryloylamino)-propyl]trimethylammonium chloride.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator component monomer is selected from the group consisting of a lanthanide chelate and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon.