Colorimetric　platform　using　the　aggregation　of　gold　nanoparticles　(AuNPs)　is　a　pretty　simple　method　for　biosensing,　but　advanced　instruments　such　as　specterophotometer　is　still　needed　to　achieve　accurately　quantitative　readout.　Aggregated　AuNPs　exhibit　excellent　photothermal　properties　under　near-infrared　laser　irradiation,　which　is　significantly　different　from　non-aggregated　AuNPs.　Herein,　given　the　different　photothermal　effect,　we　translated　the　AuNPs-based　colorimetric　assay　into　a　photothermal　assay　for　the　quantitative　detection　of　adenosine　using　a　thermometer　as　readout.　Short　single-stranded　DNA　(ssDNA,　adenosine　aptamer)　was　adsorbed　on　the　surface　of　AuNPs　and　hence　prevented　the　aggregation　of　AuNPs　under　high　ionic　concentration.　The　presence　of　adenosine　caused　the　structural　change　of　ssDNA　and　the　AuNPs　became　aggregated.　The　enhanced　temperature　under　NIR-laser　irradiation　has　a　linear　response　to　the　concentration　of　adenosine　in　the　range　of　2.0–50.0　μM.　The　detection　limit　was　1.7　μM.　This　proposed　method　is　portable,　easy　and　applicable　to　the　quantitative　assay　of　other　targets　by　simply　replacing　of　the　sequence　of　ssDNA.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.