METHOD OF DETECTING AN ANALYTE USING COATED HOLLOW MICROSPHERES AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME

摘要

Disclosed in this specification is a method for detecting an analyte using buoyant particles and chemical moieties to give buoyant particle composites that exhibit SERS and can be used for detecting the analytes in a liquid sample. A method is provided for detecting analytes of interest by contacting the analyte with a buoyant particle that comprises a first chemical moiety, such as a SERS-active component, allowing the analyte of interest to bind to the first chemical moiety. The resulting composite localizes in a discrete location of the liquid sample through a buoyant force. The composite is then detected by measuring the Raman scattered light in the discrete location of the liquid sample.

主权项

1. A method for detecting at least one analyte of interest in a sample, the method comprising:
contacting a liquid sample having a first density with at least one buoyant particle with a second density and a first chemical moiety disposed on a surface of the buoyant particle, the first chemical moiety being chosen to selectively bind to an analyte, the second density being less than the first density; permitting the first chemical moiety to bind to the analyte in the liquid sample to form a buoyant particle composite; determining a discrete location in the liquid sample where the buoyant particle composite will be localized based on the first density of the liquid sample and a density of the buoyant particle composite, respectively; detecting the analyte in the liquid sample by interrogating the discrete location with a Raman spectrometer.