Detection or delivery of a diverse range of biomolecules in field portable devices is an important area of research in the fields of environmental pollution, homeland security, and medicine. The demand for hand-held and low cost detection in these fields has led to the development of novel analytical systems such as Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIP). SERS is rapidly emerging as a tool for biological assays, chemical sensing, and electrochemistry. Whereas, Molecularly Imprinted Polymers have been developed as systems for solid phase extraction, chemical separation, and controlled release. In this dissertation, several systems were developed using nanotechnology and polymer synthesi s to develop chemical sensors and a drug delivery system. A substrate for pesticide detection was developed by conjugating oligonucleotides specific for the pesticide malathion to the surface of a SERS substrate that detected the organophosphorus pesticide malathion down to the micromolar level. A SERS substrate was also developed by grafting a molecularly imprinted polymer of methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate to surface of a gold coated silica microparticle that was able to capture and detect the pesticide thiabendazole. Molecularly ii imprinted polymers were investigated as a drug delivery system for the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin which showed strong imprinting and temperature sensitive controlled release of drug. Lastly, a cGMP pilot scale process was developed to produce gram levels of the cancer vaccine Melan-A for phase I clinical trials. iii