Provided herein is a reusable nano-imaging probe useful in surface
enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) applications demonstrating nanometer
scale resolution. The nano-imaging probe generally comprises a fiber
optic imaging bundle of fiber optic elements each having a tapered etched
end and a non-tapered non-etched end. The tapered etched ends further
comprise a SERS-active metal substrate deposited thereon effective to
create a uniform SERS enhancement for an analyte or other substance of
interest. Also provided is a SERS nanoimager for dynamic chemical imaging
using the nano-imaging probe and methods of imaging and Raman spectral
analysis and identification using the nano-imaging probe.