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Science 19 October 2007:
Vol. 318. no. 5849, pp. 426 - 430
DOI: 10.1126/science.1147241
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Reports

Mussel-Inspired Surface Chemistry for Multifunctional Coatings

Haeshin Lee,1 Shara M. Dellatore,2 William M. Miller,2,3 Phillip B. Messersmith1,3,4*

We report a method to form multifunctional polymer coatings through simple dip-coating of objects in an aqueous solution of dopamine. Inspired by the composition of adhesive proteins in mussels, we used dopamine self-polymerization to form thin, surface-adherent polydopamine films onto a wide range of inorganic and organic materials, including noble metals, oxides, polymers, semiconductors, and ceramics. Secondary reactions can be used to create a variety of ad-layers, including self-assembled monolayers through deposition of long-chain molecular building blocks, metal films by electroless metallization, and bioinert and bioactive surfaces via grafting of macromolecules.

1 Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
2 Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
3 Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
4 Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: philm{at}northwestern.edu

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Biomechanics of byssal threads outside the Mytilidae: Atrina rigida and Ctenoides mitis.
T. Pearce and M. LaBarbera (2009)
J. Exp. Biol. 212, 1449-1454
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Mussel-designed Protective Coatings for Compliant Substrates.
N. Holten-Andersen and J. H. Waite (2008)
Journal of Dental Research 87, 701-709
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)