Multifunctional coatings hinging on the catechol/amine interplay

Abstract

Design and implementation of functional coatings is a topic of active research in a variety of health‐related applications, most of which require wet adhesion. The powerful wet adhesion of mussel byssus proteins rich in DOPA and lysine residues provided a clue to realize that the combination of a catechol and an amine component has a specific role in the interfacial adhesion. From this natural model, polydopamine (PDA)‐based coatings have been developed that result from the oxidative polymerization of dopamine combining the catechol and amine functionalities in the same molecule. Covalent interactions resulting from Michael‐type addition or Schiff‐base formation of the polymeric products from dopamine oxidation as well as non‐covalent π‐stacking and cation‐π interactions exemplify the diverse mode of catechol/amine interplay that have been identified as responsible of the adhesion and cohesion properties of PDA. In the last decade coatings inspired to the same chemistry but using different starting materials have been explored particularly catechols of natural origin and different amine components, while mechanistic studies with model compounds have allowed to rationalize the structural requirements for adhesion and to expand the potential of these functional coatings.

Theoretical insights into dopamine photochemistry adsorbed on graphene-type nanostructures

“…Inspired by the composition of adhesive proteins in mussels, Lee and co-workers 16,17 have shown that dopamine (DA) through the self-polymerization process can form thin, surface-adherent polydopamine films (PDA) 18,19 onto a wide range of inorganic and organic materials, including noble metals, oxides, polymers, semiconductors, and ceramics. 20–26…”

“…15 Inspired by the composition of adhesive proteins in mussels, Lee and co-workers 16,17 have shown that dopamine (DA) through the self-polymerization process can form thin, surface-adherent polydopamine films (PDA) 18,19 onto a wide range of inorganic and organic materials, including noble metals, oxides, polymers, semiconductors, and ceramics. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26] On the other hand, carbon-based nanomaterials are one of the most widely discussed, researched and applied synthetic nanomaterials, due to their diverse capabilities, such as excellent electronic, magnetic and optical properties. At the same time, their chemical versatility allows them to be easily manipulated in laboratory and industrial environments, to be biocompatible and to be considered as a chemically robust platform.…”