Detection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by silver nanoparticles sensitized with various lectins.

Anisotropic silver nanoparticles sensitized by various lectins were applied for detection of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) which was used as a model of fungal cells. It was shown that high concentrations of yeast cells have stabilized silver nanoparticles, preventing their aggregation in the presence of NaCl whereas at low concentrations of cells, the salt has induced aggregation of nanoparticles with drastic changes in optical spectra. These changes depend on cell concentration and permit the detection of cells in the range from 3.2 × 103 to 7 × 107 cell per ml. This approach was used for the determination of these cells in urine and its applicability was demonstrated.