This is a copy of the slides presented at the meeting but not formally written up for the volume.

Plasmonic nanoparticles have been successfully demonstrated as chemically functional nanosensors, based on the controllable electromagnetic properties at their surfaces. Surface enhanced spectroscopies such as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can be utilized to provide measurable signals that monitor properties local to the nanoparticle location, such as pH, with precision adequate for diagnostic purposes where applicable. A variety of different molecular layers can be developed that exploit this SERS-based sensing modality, to monitor specific chemical binding events. Plasmonic nanoparticles can also be utilized to specifically and selectively enhance the fluorescence of molecular markers in their direct vicinity. We will discuss the underlying physical principles of both SERS and fluorescence enhancement by plasmonic nanoparticles, and the role of the plasmon energy in both SERS and fluorescence ehancements, as well as the local substrate geometry, in these processes. Combining chemically functional monitors with therapeutic modalities such as photothermal cell ablation will expand the utility of this therapeutics approach.