A ratiometric fluorescence visual test paper for an anthrax biomarker based on functionalized manganese-doped carbon dots

•Functionalized fluorescent manganese-doped carbon dots (FMn-CDs) were synthesized.•The FMn-CDs showed excellent water-solubility and biocompatibility.•A ratiometric fluorescence sensing approach for an anthrax biomarker was developed.•FMn-CDs test paper was produced for visual detection of DPA with a smartphone. Functionalized manganese-doped carbon dots (FMn-CDs) were prepared by integration of pyrolysis-derived Mn-CDs with ethylene diamine, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and Eu(III) ions. The FMn-CDs emitted intense blue fluorescence with high photostability, excellent water-solubility and favorable biocompatibility. 2, 6-dipicolinic acid (DPA) is an important biomarker of Bacillus anthracis spore. It serves as an antenna suction light group and can sensitize the Eu(III) combined on the FMn-CDs to produce bright red fluorescence. Benefitting from the absorbance energy transfer emission effect from DPA to the sensitized Eu(III), a ratiometric biosensor towards DPA detection was developed. The approach exhibited a linearity range from 0.1 to 750 nM and a detection limit of 0.1 nM. Moreover, visual FMn-CDs test paper was produced for the DPA detection using a smartphone under a portable UV lamp, with a lowest detection limit of 1 μM. This work revealed the potential of a convenient smart phone diagnostics for DPA detection using visual FMn-CDs test paper.