Ultra‐sensitive detection of ATP in serum and lysates based on nitrogen‐doped carbon dots

Abstract In this work, novel types of nitrogen‐doped carbon dots (N‐CDs) were prepared from citric acid and glycine (GLY) as precursors through a simple pyrolysis method. The GLY‐CDs showed strong fluorescence with a fluorescence quantum yield as high as 33.34% and good water solubility. The fluorescence of GLY‐CDs could be selectively quenched by iron(III) ion (Fe 3+ ) resulting in the non‐fluorescent complex. Due to the high affinity of Fe 3+ to adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate (ATP), the fluorescence of the GLY‐CDs in GLY‐CDs‐Fe 3+ could be recovered by ATP. Thereby, quantitatively fluorescent turn‐on detection of ATP could be achieved. The fluorescence recovery ratio was linearly proportional to the concentration of ATP with a detection limit as low as 15.0 nM, indicating the CDs have high sensitivity. The GLY‐CDs were successfully employed in the detection of ATP in serum and cell lysates.