Hybrid vesicles were prepared through surface-functionalization of hyperbranched polymer vesicles with noble metal nanoparticles.The vesicles were self-assembled from an amphiphilic hyperbranched polyether modified with dopamine groups at the terminal (HSP-DA).The dopamine groups can self-polymerize in alkaline aqueous solution

leading to the crosslinking of HSP-DA vesicles.Due to the strong adhesion characteristics of polydopamine

the Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) or Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) hybrid vesicles can be obtained through mixing the so-formed HSP-PDA crosslinked vesicles and AuNPs or AgNPs together.The formation of AuNPs hybrid vesicles and AgNPs hybrid vesicles was confirmed through transmission electron microscope (TEM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy measurements.The Raman spectra of hybrid vesicles showed a significant enhancement of the Raman signals of the ether bond (1280 cm-1

1140 cm-1) and aromatic rings (1590 cm-1) that was attributed to the components of HSP-PDA vesicles compared to the barely visible Raman signals from HSP-PDA vesicles.In other words

it could be used to in situ detect the vesicle components by using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of the AuNPs or AgNPs hybrid vesicles.In addition

AgNPs hybrid vesicles were further used as SERS probes to detect Rhodamine 6G molecules with a concentration of 10-7 mol/L in the aqueous solution.In the Raman spectrum

the Raman signals of C-C stretching vibration (1311

1361

1508

1572 and 1648 cm-1)

the C-H stretching vibration (772

921 and 1126 cm-1)

and C-H in-plane bending vibration (1183 cm-1) from Rhodamine 6G can be recognized clearly

indicating the potentials of the as-prepared hybrid vesicles in trace detection.