biostudies-literatureLiu LShanxi Datong UniversityNational Natural Science Foundation of China26315-26320https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9070404biostudies-literatureUnknown9(45)In this work, a novel fluorescence nanosensor for selective and sensitive determination of amaranth was constructed using carbon dots (C-dots). Water soluble C-dots with strong fluorescence were obtained by a simple microwave-assisted method using urea and glycine as raw materials. It was found that amaranth can efficiently and sensitively quench the C-dots fluorescence by the inner filter effect (IFE) and non-radiative energy transfer (NRET) mechanisms. The fluorescence quenching efficiency (<i>F</i> ₀/<i>F</i>) was strongly correlated with the concentration of amaranth in the 0.2-30 μM range. The detection limit (LOD) is 0.021 μM. There was no significant change in the fluorescence intensity of C-dots when other potentially interfering substances were present in the system. OuRSC advancesHighly selective and sensitive detection of amaranth by using carbon dots-based nanosensor.PMC90704042014-B-13 and 2016-B-1321375083Li HMi ZLiu LLi CFeng FHu QfalseHighly selective and sensitive detection of amaranth by using carbon dots-based nanosensor.In this work, a novel fluorescence nanosensor for selective and sensitive determination of amaranth was constructed using carbon dots (C-dots). Water soluble C-dots with strong fluorescence were obtained by a simple microwave-assisted method using urea and glycine as raw materials. It was found that amaranth can efficiently and sensitively quench the C-dots fluorescence by the inner filter effect (IFE) and non-radiative energy transfer (NRET) mechanisms. The fluorescence quenching efficiency (<i>F</i> ₀/<i>F</i>) was strongly correlated with the concentration of amaranth in the 0.2-30 μM range. The detection limit (LOD) is 0.021 μM. There was no significant change in the fluorescence intensity of C-dots when other potentially interfering substances were present in the system. Ou2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Aug2025-04-04T23:16:56.246Z2025-04-04T23:16:56.246ZS-EPMC90704043553101710.1039/c9ra04494a