Dopamine functionalized coatings for corrosion protection of metallic implants and advanced drug delivery: a review

The surface treatment of metallic implants is significant for their in-vivo performance. Biocompatible coatings play a crucial role in corrosion protection and other practical uses of biomedical devices to evade surgery failure and enhance their functions. Polydopamine (PDA), a mussel-inspired synthetic polymer, exhibits high potential as an adhesive middle layer to enhance the bonding at the interface between the metal substrate and coating materials and used for corrosion protection of the implants. Owing to its excellent biocompatibility along with unique drug loading perspective, several PDA-modified nanoparticles have also been preferred as drug carriers. This featured article is dedicated to summarizing the significance of PDA as a coating material for clinical applications. It was begun by describing the polymerization process of dopamine and then describes the PDA as an effective coating material for corrosion protection of implants with proposed mechanism. The beneficial effects of PDA containing coatings on corrosion protection of implants were also discussed. Next, was focused on PDA-modified nanostructures and emphasized the biocompatibility of PDA. The latest developments of PDA modified coatings/nanoparticles in advanced drug delivery applications were also discussed.