These ~7.3 nm HER2-targeting C’ dots demonstrated significantly enhanced tumor-targeted uptake (13.2 ± 2.9 %ID g−1, n = 5) and T/M ratios (11.4 ± 4.6) in xenografted mice within a much shorter p.i. imaging acquisition window (i.e., 4–24 h). The gene discussed is ERBB2; the disease is neoplasm.