Polydopamine—a nature-inspired polymer coating for biomedical science
Abstract
Polymer coatings are of central importance for many biomedical applications. In the past few years, poly(dopamine) (PDA) has attracted considerable interest for various types of biomedical applications. This feature article outlines the basic chemistry and material science regarding PDA and discusses its successful application from coatings for interfacing with cells, to drug delivery and biosensing. Although many questions remain open, the primary aim of this feature article is to illustrate the advent of PDA on its way to become a popular polymer for bioengineering purposes.
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These interactions involve metal-catechol coordination, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking, collectively allowing conformal coating at thicknesses below 10 nm and reducing surface contact angles to less than 25°.
“These interactions involve metal–catechol coordination, hydrogen bonding, and π–π stacking, collectively allowing conformal coating at thicknesses below 10 nm and reducing surface contact angles to less than 25°.”
From Polydopamine-Based Biomaterials in Oral Medicine: Applications, Mechanisms, and Translational Challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [86]
A uniform and highly hydrophilic interface is established on PDA-modified surfaces, providing a favorable foundation for subsequent biomolecule immobilization.
“As a result, a uniform and highly hydrophilic interface is established, providing a favorable foundation for subsequent biomolecule immobilization.86,87”
From Polydopamine-Based Biomaterials in Oral Medicine: Applications, Mechanisms, and Translational Challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [86]
Catechol and quinone groups within PDA film are partially deprotonated in Tris buffer at pH 8.5, enabling strong interactions with a wide range of substrates including gold, glassy carbon, ITO, silicon, and flexible PET.
“On the one hand, catechol and quinone groups within the PDA film are partially deprotonated in Tris buffer at pH 8.5, enabling strong interactions with a wide range of substrates, including gold, glassy carbon, indium tin oxide (ITO), silicon, and flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET).”
From Polydopamine-Based Biomaterials in Oral Medicine: Applications, Mechanisms, and Translational Challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [86]
PDA coating exhibits extensive chemical properties spanning from the protection against light damage to the role as biosensors transmitting the biological information, among which the adhesive function of PDA coating is one of the most useful features associated with bone tissue regeneration.
“PDA coating exhibits extensive chemical properties spanning from the protection against light damage to the role as biosensors transmitting the biological information, among which the adhesive function of PDA coating is one of the most useful features associated with bone tissue regeneration [18].”
From Polydopamine-Assisted Surface Modification for Bone Biosubstitutes (2016) · cites this paper as [18]
Polydopamine (PDA) prepared as a layer of polymerized dopamine in a weak alkaline solution has been used as a versatile biomimetic surface modifier and immobilizing macromolecule.
“Polydopamine (PDA) prepared in the form of a layer of polymerized dopamine (DA) in a weak alkaline solution has been used as a versatile biomimetic surface modifier as well as a broadly used immobilizing macromolecule.”
From Polydopamine-Assisted Surface Modification for Bone Biosubstitutes (2016) · cites this paper as [18]
PDA-assisted surface modification is expanding its applications to not only bone biosubstitutes but also cardiovascular devices, biosensors, neuron pseudosubstitutes, and sustainable drug delivery.
“the PDA-assisted surface modification is expanding its applications to not only bone biosubstitutes but also cardiovascular devices, biosensors, neuron pseudosubstitutes, and sustainable drug delivery [18, 99–101].”
From Polydopamine-Assisted Surface Modification for Bone Biosubstitutes (2016) · cites this paper as [18]
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Polydopamine-Assisted Surface Modification for Bone Biosubstitutes
Huang, S., Liang, N., Hu, Y., Zhou, X., & Abidi, N. (2016) · BioMed Research International · doi:10.1155/2016/2389895 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
“PDA coating exhibits extensive chemical properties spanning from the protection against light damage to the role as biosensors transmitting the biological information, among which the adhesive function of PDA coating is one of the most useful features associated with bone tissue regeneration [18].”
BackgroundKaushik, N., Nhat Nguyen, L., Kim, J. H., Choi, E. H., & Kumar Kaushik, N. (2020) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms21186544 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Wu, M., Wang, T., Wang, Q., & Huang, W. (2019) · Materials Letters · doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2018.10.036 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Yang, Z., Song, W., Lv, L., Zhai, S., Liu, Y., Cui, H., Li, X., Gao, F., & Chu, S. (2026) · International Journal of Nanomedicine · doi:10.2147/ijn.s611922
“86,87 On the other hand, biomolecule immobilization on PDA-modified interfaces is typically achieved through a widely adopted two-step strategy.”
- Authors
- Lynge, M. E., van der Westen, R., Postma, A., & Städler, B.
- Affiliations
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Städler, Brigitte
- Venue
- Nanoscale
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
- Published
- 2011
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 4916
- ISSN
- 2040-3364 (ISSN-L)
- 2040-3372
- OpenAlex
- W2072005992
- Cited by
- 907
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 39 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 51 · 2023: 64 · 2022: 69 · 2021: 84 · 2020: 85 · 2019: 94 · 2018: 82 · 2017: 84 · 2016: 58 · 2015: 63 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 1.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nanoscale (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Surfaces, Coatings and Films › Polymer Surface Interaction Studies
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Conducting polymers and applications
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Diatoms and Algae Research
- Keywords
- polydopamine, polymer coatings, biomaterials, cell adhesion, drug delivery, biosensing, biomimetic materials, surface chemistry
- MeSH terms
- Indoles, Polymers, Biosensing Techniques, Drug Delivery Systems, Bioengineering
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