Light harvesting multichromophore compositions and methods of using the same

An aqueous labelling composition comprising:

• a donor light harvesting multichromophore system comprising an aggregate of conjugated polymers in an aqueous solution that upon excitation are capable of transferring energy to an acceptor signaling chromophore, wherein the conjugated polymers comprise water soluble groups;
• and
• the acceptor signaling chromophore in energy-receiving proximity to the donor light harvesting multichromophore in the aqueous solution;
• wherein the donor light harvesting multichromophore system comprises conjugated polymers of aromatic repeat units and the ratio of the number of repeat units to the acceptor signaling chromophore is 100:1 or more.

An aqueous composition for labelling a target, the composition comprising:

• a donor light harvesting multichromophore system comprising an aggregate of conjugated polymers in an aqueous solution that upon excitation are capable of transferring energy to an acceptor signaling chromophore, wherein the conjugated polymers comprise water soluble groups;
• the acceptor signaling chromophore in energy-receiving proximity to the donor light harvesting multichromophore in the aqueous solution;
• and
• a sensor biomolecule.