Patent ID: 7898658
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of analysis to determine the presence or absence of an analyte in a sample comprising: i) treating a substrate comprising: wherein the pores of said matrix are nanometer in scale, wherein the distance between the pores is nanometer in scale, and wherein the pores are filled with deposits of a surface-enhanced-Raman-active metal, and wherein the deposits are covered with an additional layer defining a second surface; wherein said treating comprises differentially removing said first material to expose said surface-enhanced-Raman-active metal as nanowires, and wherein said nanowires are capable of spatially condensing to a distance of separation which is smaller than the distance between pores of the matrix and suitable for generating a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy signal; ii) contacting said substrate with a sample suspected of containing an analyte; iii) detecting a surface enhanced Raman spectrum (SERS) signal; wherein the SERS signal is indicative of the presence or absence of the analyte.