A　sensitive　and　selective　photoluminescent　sensor　based　on　the　highly　charged　monoruthenium(II)　complex　was　designed　to　detect　dopamine　(DA)　in　aqueous　samples.　Two　novel　highly　charged　cationic　ruthenium(II)　complexes　[Ru(bpy)2(bpy-N)]X4　(bpy　=　2,2′-bipyridine,　bpy-N　=　4,4′-bis[N,N,N-triethyl-(methylamino)]-2,2′-bipyridine,　X−　=　[PF6]−　(1a)　or　Cl−　(1b)　and　[Ru(bpy)(bpy-N)2]X6　(X−　=　[PF6]−　(2a)　or　Cl−(2b))　can　be　assembled　with　anionic　surfactant　sodium　dodecylbenzene　sulfonate　(SDBS),　leading　to　an　enhancement　of　photoluminescence　intensity.　Upon　addition　of　DA　to　the　system,　the　photoluminescence　intensity　of　the　assembled　system　was　quenched　due　to　the　energy　transfer　effect.　It　exhibited　a　wide　linear　range　(0.1–50　μM)　and　low　detection　limit　(10　nM).　The　sensor　demonstrated　a　high　selectivity　toward　DA,　especially　in　the　presence　of　adrenaline　(Adr)　and　norepinephrine　(NE),　whose　structures　are　similar　to　DA　in　biological　systems.　With　the　merits　of　simple　operation,　obvious　phenomenon　and　fast　response　speed,　the　sensor　had　a　potential　application　prospect　in　human　urine　sample.　©　2022　Elsevier　Inc.