Polymer coated sers nanotag

Abstract

An encapsulated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tag. The tag includes a metal core and an encapsulant, typically a glass encapsulant. The encapsulant is further derivatized with a polymer.

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         4 . A method of assaying a tissue, cell, tumor, or physiological region comprising:
 associating said tissue, cell, tumor, or physiological region with a polymer coated SERS active nanotag, wherein said SERS active nanotag comprises:
 a core comprising one or more nanoparticles, 
 a Raman-active molecule attached to or associated with said core, and 
 an encapsulant, and 
 wherein said polymer coating completely covers said SERS active nanotag; and obtaining the Raman spectrum of said polymer coated SERS active nanotag. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one protein is attached to said polymer coated SERS active nanotag. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one antibody is attached to said polymer coated SERS active nanotag. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said core comprises a single nanoparticle. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said core comprises a plurality of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said encapsulant comprises glass. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said polymer coating comprises polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said polymer coating comprises one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, synthetic polyaminoacids, block copolymer dendrimers, polyamides, polyethylenimines, polyacrylates, and natural carbohydrates. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said SERS active polymer coated nanotag has a longer in vivo retention time as compared to an identical SERS active nanotag without said polymer coating.