Patent ID: 8026108

Claim:
A method for detection of biomolecule targets, comprising the steps of: providing a probe solution comprising a plurality of probes comprising bioreceptor functionalized nanoparticles, wherein said nanoparticles consisting of a plurality of metal atoms, and wherein said bioreceptor is adapted for binding said probes to said targets; contacting a sample solution suspected of including said targets with said probe solution comprising said plurality of probes, wherein said targets when present in said sample solution bind to said plurality of probes; separating said plurality of probes into a first group of probes having said targets bound thereto and a second group of probes not having said targets bound thereto; breaking down said nanoparticles associated with probes in at least one of said groups of probes, wherein a plurality of signal moieties are released for each of said nanoparticles that are broken down to form at least one signal moiety solution; measuring a parameter of said signal moieties in said at least one signal moiety solution; and determining a presence of said targets in said sample solution from said parameter of said signal moieties.