Patent ID: 7951535

Claim:
A method of detecting targets, comprising the steps of: introducing at least one oligonucleotide-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy molecular probe (SMP) to a solution comprising isolated nucleic acids, said SMP comprising at least one nanoparticle having at least a metal component, and at least one pin loop, said pin loop including a loop sequence complementary to at least one target sequence, a first stem attached to one end of said pin loop having at least one SERS active label attached thereto and a second stem attached to the other end of said pin loop and said nanoparticle, wherein said probe generates a stronger SERS signal upon irradiation with excitation radiation when not bound to said target sequence as compared to a SERS signal following hybridization of said probe with said target sequence, irradiating said SMP, and determining if said target sequence is present in the solution comprising isolated nucleic acids based on analysis of SERS radiation scattered by said SMP responsive to said irradiating step.