Patent ID: 7271896

Claim:
A method of detecting the presence of a protein-containing analyte in a biological sample, comprising: a) contacting the sample under conditions effective to allow specific binding of a protein-containing analyte therein to at least one first probe coupled to a nanoporous biological sensor comprising: a nanoporous silicon structure comprising a central layer interposed between upper and lower layers, each of the upper and lower layers including strata of alternating porosity; at least one first probe coupled to the porous semiconductor structure, the binding forming one or more bound complexes; b) contacting the bound complexes with a Raman-active probe that binds to the complexes; c) covering the bound complexes with a thin layer of silver or gold nanoparticles; d) illuminating the sensor so as to cause fluorescent emissions from the bound complexes, the emissions generating SERS signals from the bound complexes; and e) detecting SERS spectra produced by the SERS signals; wherein a SERS spectrum associated with a bound protein-containing analyte indicates presence of the protein-containing analyte in the sample.