We have developed individually SERS-active nanotags that uniquely function both as a reporter and a sensitive platform for SERS measurements of analytes of interest. Hollow Au-Ag alloy nanoshells with a porous wall were synthesized by galvanic replacement reaction, and were subsequently loaded with thiocyanate (SCN-) tag molecules. The open structure of the nanoshells was filled with Ag via citrate reduction, sealing SCN- inside the core-shell nanostructure. Nanotags show a linear correlation between the SERS intensity of the encapsulated SCN- and the number of nanoparticles. The SERS intensity of SCN- is insensitive to environmental variants and can therefore be reliably used as an internal reference for quantitative measurements. Unique to previously documented nanotags that serve solely as a beacon, our nanoparticles with encapsulated SCN- can function both as such and ultra-sensitive substrates for SERS measurements of analytes of interest.

Individually SERS active nanotags with dual functionalities

245th National Meeting (2013)

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