Ultrasonic assisted synthesis of adenosine triphosphate capped manganese-doped ZnS quantum dots for selective room temperature phosphorescence detection of arginine and methylated arginine in urine based on supramolecular Mg2+-adenosine triphosphate-argin

► Ultrasonic assisted approach for rapid synthesis of ATP-capped Mn-doped ZnS QDs. ► ATP-capped Mn-doped ZnS QDs for selective phosphorescent detection of (methylated) arginine. ► The selectivity is based on the supramolecular Mg2+-ATP-arginine ternary system. ► The probe exhibits a low limit of detection (0.23 μM).