Design and synthesis of gold nanostars-based SERS nanotags for bioimaging applications

Bohdan Andreiuk; Fay Nicolson; Louise M Clark; Sajanlal R Panikkanvalappil; Kenry; Mohammad Rashidian; Stefan Harmsen; Moritz F Kircher

doi:10.7150/ntno.61244

Design and synthesis of gold nanostars-based SERS nanotags for bioimaging applications

Nanotheranostics. 2022 Jan 1;6(1):10-30. doi: 10.7150/ntno.61244. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Bohdan Andreiuk^{1

2}, Fay Nicolson^{1

3}, Louise M Clark^{1

2}, Sajanlal R Panikkanvalappil¹, Kenry^{1

4}, Mohammad Rashidian², Stefan Harmsen⁵, Moritz F Kircher^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
² Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
³ Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
⁴ Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
⁵ Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
⁶ Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 022115, USA.

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) nanotags hold a unique place among bioimaging contrast agents due to their fingerprint-like spectra, which provide one of the highest degrees of detection specificity. However, in order to achieve a sufficiently high signal intensity, targeting capabilities, and biocompatibility, all components of nanotags must be rationally designed and tailored to a specific application. Design parameters include fine-tuning the properties of the plasmonic core as well as optimizing the choice of Raman reporter molecule, surface coating, and targeting moieties for the intended application. This review introduces readers to the principles of SERS nanotag design and discusses both established and emerging protocols of their synthesis, with a specific focus on the construction of SERS nanotags in the context of bioimaging and theranostics.

Keywords: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering; cancer imaging; gold nanostar synthesis; near-infrared dye.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Gold*
Spectrum Analysis, Raman* / methods

Substances

Gold

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding