Polymeric chromophores, compositions comprising the same, and methods of preparing and using the same

A compound having a structure represented by:

• A-B-C, or
• C-A-B
• wherein
• A is a dye, optionally wherein the dye has a molecular weight in a range of about 150 Daltons (Da) to about 3,000 Da;
• B is a polymer comprising one or more hydrophobic unit(s) and one or more hydrophilic unit(s), optionally wherein the polymer has a molecular weight in a range of about 1,000 Da, 5,000 Da, or 10,000 Da to about 175,000 Da;
• and
• optionally C, wherein C comprises a bioconjugate group;
• and
• wherein the compound comprises at least one unit having a structure represented by Formula III:
• wherein:
• R is hydrogen or a C1-C8 alkyl;
• R1 is absent or is —O—, —NH—, —CH2—;
• R′ is a C3-C20 cycloalkyl;
• R2 is hydrogen or a halo, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, formyl, vinyl, epoxy, mercapto, ester, azido, maleimido, isocyanato, or isothiocyanato group;
• and
• p is an integer from 1 to 10, 100, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, or 100,000.

A method of imaging a tissue and/or agent in a subject, the method comprising:

• administering to the subject a compound having a structure represented by:
• A-B-C, or
• C-A-B
• wherein
• A is a dye, optionally wherein the dye has a molecular weight in a range of about 150 Daltons (Da) to about 3,000 Da;
• B is a polymer comprising one or more hydrophobic unit(s) and one or more hydrophilic unit(s), optionally wherein the polymer has a molecular weight in a range of about 1,000 Da, 5,000 Da, or 10,000 Da to about 175,000 Da;
• and
• optionally C, wherein C comprises a bioconjugate group, optionally wherein the compound associates with the tissue and/or agent;
• and
• detecting the compound within the subject, thereby imaging the tissue and/or agent.

A method of sensing a metal ion, the method comprising:

• providing compound having a structure represented by:
• A-B-C, or
• C-A-B
• wherein
• A is a dye, optionally wherein the dye has a molecular weight in a range of about 150 Daltons (Da) to about 3,000 Da;
• B is a polymer comprising one or more hydrophobic unit(s) and one or more hydrophilic unit(s), optionally wherein the polymer has a molecular weight in a range of about 1,000 Da, 5,000 Da, or 10,000 Da to about 175,000 Da;
• and
• optionally C, wherein C comprises a bioconjugate group;
• and
• contacting the metal-ion with the compound, thereby sensing the metal ion.