Method for identifying a target analyte with a nanoparticle probe

Abstract

A method and system for functionalizing substrates for use in near field surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. Each functionalized glass substrate of a set of glass substrates functionalized with trimethoxy-[3-(methylamino)propyl] silane is coated with a colloidal solution of gold nanoparticles. A Raman-active dye is applied to the glass substrate through spin coating. A near field SERS spectroscopy of each functionalized glass substrate is performed. Hotspots that produce high-intensity scattering from the dyed immobilized gold nanoparticles are identified for each functionalized glass substrate. A direction of interparticle axis between two adjacent dyed immobilized gold nanoparticles and electromagnetic near field intensity of the scattering along the direction of the interparticle axis for each hotspot are identified for each functionalized glass substrate. A location of each interstitial position, the direction of the interparticle axis, and the electromagnetic near field intensity of the respective hotspot are mapped for each functionalized glass substrate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.