The invention provides a novel class of cyanine dyes that are functionalized with sulfonic acid groups and a linker moiety that facilitates their conjugation to other species and {HEAD ~ substituent groups} which increase the water solubility, and optimize {TAIL ~ the optical properties} of the dyes 
optimize
The invention provides a novel class of cyanine dyes that are functionalized with sulfonic acid groups and a linker moiety that facilitates their conjugation to other species and { HEAD ~ substituent groups } which increase the water solubility , and optimize { TAIL ~ the optical properties } of the dyes
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