Disclosed is a method and a kit for multi-color cell imaging with dark field optical microscopy using noble metal conjugated nanoparticles. The noble metal conjugated nanoparticles include a stabilizer component and a binding ligand, the stabilizer component coats a portion of the noble metal nanoparticle keeping it stable in biological buffers and cell cytoplasm. The binding ligand specifically binds to targeted cells designated for imaging. The method and kit permit multicolor imaging of cells, with the multiple colors being derived from localized surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles, each color the result of different amounts of one or more noble metals in the nanoparticle.
