Hydrophilically stabilized gold nanostars as SERS labels for tissue imaging of the tumor suppressor p63 by immuno-SERS microscopy

A biocompatible, seed-mediated synthesis of monodisperse similar to 60 nm gold nanostars, followed by hydrophilic stabilization with ethylene glycol-modified Raman reporter molecules, is presented. Their application as SERS labels for imaging of the tumor suppressor p63 in prostate biopsies by immuno-SERS microscopy is demonstrated.