A surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active nanoassembly comprising anisotropically assembled gold nanoparticles in a monolayer double row immobilized on a glass layer is disclosed. The discrete gold nanoparticles are separated by interparticle gaps of 0.5-10 nm that provide hotsites where appropriate excitation creates surface plasmon resonaces and regions of strong and localized electromagnetic fields that enhance Raman signal substantially, 104-1015 fold. An appropriate SERS apparatus comprising the nanoassembly for detecting an analyte is also disclosed. In addition, a method for producing the nanoassembly as well as the application of the nanoassembly or the apparatus comprising the nanoassembly in a method for measuring the SERS signal of an analyte is disclosed.
