Abstract
Biological structures have emerged through millennia of evolution, and nature has fine-tuned the material properties in order to optimise the structure–function relationship. Following this paradigm, polydopamine (PDA), which was found to be crucial for the adhesion of mussels to wet surfaces, was hence initially introduced as a coating substance to increase the chemical reactivity and surface adhesion properties. Structurally, polydopamine is very similar to melanin, which is a pigment of human skin responsible for the protection of underlying skin layers by efficiently absorbing light with potentially harmful wavelengths. Recent findings have shown the subsequent release of the energy (in the form of heat) upon light excitation, presenting it as an ideal candidate for photothermal applications. Thus, polydopamine can both be used to (i) coat nanoparticle surfaces and to (ii) form capsules and ultra-small (nano)particles/nanocomposites while retaining bulk characteristics (i.e., biocompatibility, stability under UV irradiation, heat conversion, and activity during photoacoustic imaging). Due to the aforementioned properties, polydopamine-based materials have since been tested in adhesive and in energy-related as well as in a range of medical applications such as for tumour ablation, imaging, and drug delivery. In this review, we focus upon how different forms of the material can be synthesised and the use of polydopamine in biological and biomedical applications.
Highlights
In recent years, nanomaterials have gained considerable interest [1,2].Due to their intriguing characteristics, several applications in different fields could be advanced [2].Such nanocharacteristics include size, possibility for surface modification, ability to carry an active payload, and photochemical/physical activity [3].The field of nanomedicine in particular has grown steadily, despite the low translation rate from bench to bedside [3,4]
This includes examples of theranostic and drug delivery applications derived from different types of includes examples of theranostic and drug delivery applications derived from different types of polydopamine-based configurations: adhesive, particle coating agent, capsule, and NPs/composites, polydopamine-based configurations: adhesive, particle coating agent, capsule, and NPs/composites, respectively (Figure 1C,E)
In vitro experiments using human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK-a), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), human microglia (HM), and normal liver cells (L-02) cells observed enhanced biocompatibility and cytoprotective roles against oxidative stress induced by H2 O2 in these human cells at low concentrations (2 μg/mL)
Summary
Nanomaterials have gained considerable interest [1,2] Due to their intriguing characteristics, several applications in different fields could be advanced [2]. Theoretical and experimental proof of the chemical formation This is is followed byby descriptions of polydopamine-based polydopamine-basedstructures structuresisissummarised summarised(Figure (Figure1B,C). Throughout, their wide range of of in energy-related applications are highlighted (Figure 1D) Throughout, their wide range applicationsininthe thebiomedical biomedicalfield field(thanks (thanks to to their their biocompatibility) biocompatibility) isisthoroughly. This includes examples of theranostic and drug delivery applications derived from different types of includes examples of theranostic and drug delivery applications derived from different types of polydopamine-based configurations: adhesive, particle coating agent, capsule, and NPs/composites, polydopamine-based configurations: adhesive, particle coating agent, capsule, and NPs/composites, respectively (Figure 1C,E).
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