Figure 1.

(A) Photograph of blue mussel binding to Teflon and molecular structure of DOPA and dopamine [9]. (B) Location of adhesive-related proteins identified in the byssus of Mytilus edulis[9]. (C) A schematic illustration of thin film deposition of PDA by dip coating within an alkaline dopamine solution [8]. (D) Thickness evolution of PDA coating on Si as measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) of patterned surfaces [8]. (E) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization of 25 different PDA-coated surfaces [8]. Reprinted with permission from ref. [8], 2007, American Association for the Advancement of Science and ref. [9], 2011, Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing Group. HAp = hydroxyapatite; PS = polystyrene; PE = polyethylene; PC = polycarbonate; PET = polyethylene terephthalate; PTFE = polytetrafluoroethylene; PU = polyurethane; DOPA = 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine; PDA = polydopamine; PDMS = polydimethylsiloxane; PEEK = poly(ether ether ketone).