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Graphical abstract depicting detection of dopamine based on BSA stabilised copper nanocluster. • Rapid detection of dopamine is achieved by using insitu synthesized blue emitting CuNC. • Dopamine showed fast response towards H2O2 added BSA CuNC with a limit of detection 0.1637 pM. • Dopamine detection is further validated with real sample matrices such as human blood serum samples and urine samples. • Dopamine detection is further validated with real sample matrices such as human serum samples and human urine samples. • A portable paper strip detection method is developed for the onsite detection of dopamine. Rapid and real-time monitoring of catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine receives immense importance since it plays a crucial role as a local chemical messenger for interneuronal communications in mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems. In the present study, blue emitting copper nanocluster was synthesized in presence (BSA CuNC1) and absence (BSA CuNC2) of hydrogen peroxide and fluorescence response of the two systems towards dopamine was analysed. At an excitation of 355 nm, fast response towards dopamine detection was obtained for BSA CuNC1 system having limit of detection 0.1637 pM. The fast interaction of dopamine with BSA CuNC1 can be attributed to the intrinsic peroxidase like activity of CuNC in presence of H 2 O 2. On the other hand, the response of dopamine towards BSA CuNC2 was very slow with a limit of detection 0.024 nM. Encouraged by the fast response and low limit of detection, the BSA CuNC1 system was effectively applied for dopamine detection in real sample matrices. The recovery percentage for serum sample obtained was in the range 90–98.33% and for urine sample was in the range 89–96.66%. In addition to that, a paper test strips using BSA CuNC1 was developed which exhibited colour change as well as fluorescence quenching, creates a low cost approach for the fast monitoring of dopamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]