the present invention relates to methods , compositions , and kits for generating conjugated gold nanoparticles . in certain embodiments , the present invention provides methods of generating unsaturated conjugated gold nanoparticles by mixing naked gold nanoparticles with a first type of attachment molecules at a molar ratio such that the attachment molecules attach to the naked gold particles at a density level below the saturation level of the naked gold particles . in some embodiments , a second type of attachment molecules are mixed with the unsaturated conjugated gold nanoparticles to generate double - conjugated gold nanoparticles .