Core particles were synthesized using a seed-growth method with a subsequent etching step. In CTAB solution, small clusters were formed by reducing Au 3+ ions with sodium borohydride from chloroauric acid serving as a precursor molecule. Adding a growth solution of chloroauric acid and ascorbic acid in CTAB allows for the growth of these small clusters into larger ones. Next, the seeds were anisotropically grown into polyhedral with slightly larger sizes than the envisaged size of superspherical particles in CTAC solution. Finally, the polyhedrons were etched in a mild oxidation step in CTAB to smooth the surface by adding more Au 3+ ions. The synthesis yields 50 nm ssAuNP capped with CTAB. UV/Vis extinction spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed as quality control before particles were used without purification.