{HEAD ~ The invention} provides {TAIL ~ 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 substituent groups which increase the water solubility, and optimize the optical properties of the dyes 
{ HEAD ~ The invention } provides { TAIL ~ 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 substituent groups which increase the water solubility , and optimize the optical properties of the dyes
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