| abstract |
Processes are described for: (1) the sequential solid phase synthesis of polymers with at least one tag, which can be a light emitting and/or absorbing molecular species (optical-label), a paramagnetic or radioactive label, or a tag that permits the physical separation of particles including cells. When multiple optical-labels are suitably arranged in three-dimensional space, the energy transfer from one moleculars species to another can be maximized and the radiationless loss between members of the same molecular species can be minimized; (2) the coupling of these polymers to biologically active and/or biologically compatible molecules through peripheral pendant substituents having at least one reactive site; and (3) the specific cleavage of the coupled polymer from a solid phase support. The tagged-peptide or polymers produced by these processes and their conjugates with an analyte-binding species, such as a monoclonal antibody or a polynucleotide probe are described. When functionalized europium macrocyclic complexes, as taught in our U.S. patents 5,373,093 and 5,696,240, are bound to polylysine and other peptides, the emitted light increases linearly with the amount of bound macrocyclic complex. Similar linearity will also result for multiple luminescent macrocyclic complexes of other lanthanide ions, such as samarium, terbium, and dysprosium, when they are bound to a polymer or molecule. |