Multifunctional Nanoparticles for a SERS Portable Diagnostic Platform

Recent advances in hand held Raman instrumentation have enabled the realistic potential for point of care diagnostics based on Surfaced Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). Magnetic based nanoparticle assays have been previously demonstrated to achieve selectivities and sensitivies superior to ELISA platforms for the detection of both viral capsid proteins and antibodies to West Nile Virus and Rift Valley Fever Virus in complex media. The development of gold coated magnetic nanoparticles further enhances sensitivity and enables rapid assays (<15 minutes) with reproducible results. Another 2 fold sensitivity was recently achieved through the use of antibody fragments in place of whole antibodies on the nanoparticle surfaces.