A green “off–on” fluorescent sensor to detect Fe3+ and ATP using synthesized carbon dots from Rosehip

© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.A newly prepared rosehip-derived carbon dots (CDs) have been demonstrated as a “Turn off–on” fluorescent sensor to detect ferric ion (Fe3+) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules in aqueous solution. Firstly, CDs were prepared by a one-step method in an autoclave from rosehip as a new native precursor. The CDs' optical and structural characterization was successfully performed using the relevant devices. Afterward, the CDs' fluorescent responses were studied in the medium of various metal ions. The fluorescence intensity of CDs was sensitively quenched with only Fe3+. To restore the fluorescence intensity of quenched CDs, the fluorescence responses of the CDs–Fe system were examined in the presence of various biomolecules. The CDs' fluorescence intensity was largely recovered with only ATP. Also, the fluorescence interference experiments for Fe3+ and ATP were separately performed. The results showed that each could be accurately determined as independent from the other relevant cations/molecules. A detection limit (LOD) for Fe3+ and ATP was determined as 0.53 µM and 0.26 µM, respectively. Consequently, it could be easily used as a precisive and selective " off–on" fluorescent sensor for "Fe3+–ATP" in the determined concentration range. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]