Patent ID: 8873038

Claim:
A method of preparing a multilayered spherical nanoparticle, the method comprising: (1) providing a multilayered nanoparticle design by (a) selecting parameters for the multilayered spherical nanoparticle, the parameters comprising an overall diameter, a core diameter, a number of layers, a metal, a dielectric, thickness ranges for metal layers, thickness ranges for dielectric layers, a reporter molecule and a reporter molecule concentration; (b) storing the selected parameters in a database; (c) estimating, using a computer and based upon the selected parameters, field strengths for each layer; (d) comparing, using the computer, estimated field strengths with prior estimated field strengths to provide a comparison; (e) storing, using the computer, expansion coefficients; (f) selecting, using the computer, a weighting function from a database, wherein the weighting function is based on a power of an electric field strength; (g) applying, using the computer, the weighting function; (h) selecting, using the computer, at least one nanoshell structure; and (i) generating an output comprising a multilayered nanoparticle design based upon steps (a)-(h); (2) providing a spherical metal or dielectric core; (3) depositing a first layer onto the core by depositing a plurality of metal or dielectric seeds onto the core, wherein the seeds are (a) metal if the core is dielectric or (b) dielectric if the core is metal; (4) growing the plurality of metal or dielectric seeds into a continuous metal layer or dielectric layer, respectively; (5) depositing a plurality of alternating metal and dielectric layers onto the first layer by depositing a plurality of metal or dielectric seeds onto the first layer or a subsequent layer, and growing the plurality of metal or dielectric seeds into a continuous metal layer or dielectric layer, respectively; (6) repeating step (5) to produce a number of layers determined by the multilayered nanoparticle design, wherein the layers terminate with an outer metal layer; (7) adding a plurality of reporter molecules to at least one dielectric layer; (8) depositing a plurality of dielectric seeds onto the outer metal layer; and (9) growing the plurality of dielectric seeds into an outer dielectric shell, thereby producing a multilayered spherical nanoparticle comprising a spherical metal or dielectric core, a plurality of alternating metal and dielectric layers surrounding the core and terminating with an outer dielectric shell, and a plurality of embedded reporter molecules dispersed in at least one dielectric layer other than the outer dielectric shell, wherein the embedded reporter molecules are shielded by the at least one dielectric layer from direct contact with an adjacent metal layer.