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CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous solution with 3-mercaptopropionic acid as the stabilizer. Chemically reduced bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used to modify the surface of the QDs. Experimental results showed that the denatured BSA (dBSA) could be effectively conjugated to the surface of CdTe QDs. Column chromatography was used to purify the conjugates and determine the optimal ratio of dBSA to QDs. Further experimental results showed that the conjugation of QDs by dBSA efficiently improved the photoluminescence quantum yield, the chemical stability of QDs and their stability against photobleaching. A facile and sensitive method for determination of silver(I) ions was proposed based on the fluorescence quenching of the dBSA-QDs. Under the optimal conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity decreased linearly with the concentration of the silver(I) ions in the range 0.08-10.66 microM. The detection limit was 0.01 microM. This study provides a new method for the detection of metal cations.