Polydopamine as a universal interfacial platform for natural and synthetic biopolymer composites: chemistry, integration strategies, and applications

Polydopamine (PDA) has gained recognition as a flexible and multipurpose biomaterial due to its distinct physicochemical properties, such as widespread adhesion, redox activity, photothermal conversion ability, antioxidant properties, and abundant surface modification. Obtained through the oxidative self-polymerization of dopamine, PDA shows a chemically varied and architecturally intricate structures made up of indole-derived oligomeric components, facilitating robust covalent, and noncovalent bonds with a diverse array of polymeric matrices. In the past few years, extensive research has concentrated on combining PDA with both natural and synthetic biopolymers to address inherent challenges like weak interfacial bonding, insufficient mechanical resilience, restricted bioactivity, and reduced functional stability. This evaluation systematically outlines the synthesis methods, structural characteristics, physicochemical characteristics, and various integration methods of PDA, including surface treatment and mixing, on-site polymer synthesis. Special attention is given to PDA aided alteration of polysaccharides, proteins, and compostable synthetic polymers, emphasizing the performance relationships of structural properties. Moreover, the evaluation thoroughly examines the significance of PDA in sophisticated uses across biomedical engineering, medication delivery, tissue scaffold, biosensing, hydrogels, and environmental applications. By integrating recent advances and identifying knowledge gaps, this review emphasizes polydopamine’s pivotal role as an interfacial engineering platform for advanced, eco-friendly, multifunctional polymeric materials.