Because of special local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) property, plasma nanoparticles,especially gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), AuNPs particles have high conductivity of optical signals localized on the surface from physical or chemical irritants.In the past decades, it has been widely used in biological detection and imaging including single cells spectral analysis and cell imaging based on optical properties of gold nanoparticles.Developments of optical detection and spectroscopy methods for single cell are key advances for applications and fundamental understanding of the novel properties exhibited with nanosize systems. These methods are reviewed, focusing on optical approaches based on light absorption and elastic scattering.In this paper,environment detection and imaging of the cells based on gold nanoparticles is reviewed. Cell dynamic real- time measurement at single cell level with the basic principles and unique related methods about the interaction between light and cell is discussed.The principle and method spectral analysis of single cell test and the advantages of these methods and challenges are focused, and describes the recent progress in the research of this field, such as probing cellular and subcellular environments,monitoring cellular response and cell deathinduction, biomolecule identification and quantification, drug action and release,and cancerous diagnosis and treatment.Finally the study reflects future developing directions.