We demonstrate a new sensitive biosensor for detection of vital fungal
spores of Aspergillus niger. The biosensor is based on silicon
microfabricated cantilever arrays operated in dynamic mode. The change in
resonance frequency of the sensor is a function of mass binding to the
cantilever surface. For specific A. niger spore immobilization on
the cantilever, each cantilever was individually coated with
anti-Aspergillus niger polyclonal antibodies. We demonstrate the
detection of single A. niger spores and their subsequent growth
on the functionalized cantilever surface by online measurements of
resonance frequency shifts. The new biosensor operating in humid air
allows quantitative and qualitative detection of A. niger spores
as well as detection of vital, functional spores in situ within
∼4 h. The detection limit of the sensor is 103 CFU
mL−1. Mass sensitivity of the cantilever sensor is
∼53 pg Hz−1.