General Aspects -- Nanocrystals and Nanoparticles Versus Molecular Fluorescent Labels as Reporters for Bioanalysis and the Life Sciences: A Critical Comparison -- Optimization of the Coupling of Target Recognition and Signal Generation -- Collective Effects Influencing Fluorescence Emission -- Encapsulated Dyes and Supramolecular Constructions -- Fluorescent J-Aggregates and Their Biological Applications -- Conjugates, Complexes, and Interlocked Systems Based on Squaraines and Cyanines -- Dye Doped Nanoparticles and Dendrimers -- Dye-Doped Polymeric Particles for Sensing and Imaging -- Silica-Based Nanoparticles: Design and Properties -- Luminescent Dendrimers as Ligands and Sensors of Metal Ions -- Prospects for Organic Dye Nanoparticles -- Luminescent Metal Nanoclusters -- Few-Atom Silver Clusters as Fluorescent Reporters -- Luminescent Quantum Clusters of Gold as Bio-Labels -- Conjugated Polymers -- Structure, Emissive Properties, and Reporting Abilities of Conjugated Polymers -- Optical Reporting by Conjugated Polymers via Conformational Changes -- Fluorescence Reporting Based on FRET Between Conjugated Polyelectrolyte and Organic Dye for Biosensor Applications.

This volume demonstrates the novel possibilities in sensing and imaging offered by the assembly of organic dyes into nanoparticles and nanocomposites and by the application of strongly fluorescent noble metal clusters and conjugated polymers. Its 14 chapters, written by top experts in this field, provide in-depth information on the coupling of organic dyes to different molecular and supramolecular structures, on their incorporation into polymeric nanoparticles and on the nanostructures that can be formed by some of the dyes. Bright and photostable several-atom clusters of gold and silver are examined. Finally, the revolutionary changes in sensing technologies attending the advent of conjugated polmyers and the advances in their application are discussed.