Polydopamine-Based Simple and Versatile Surface Modification of Polymeric Nano Drug Carriers

Abstract

The surface modification of polymeric nanoparticle (NP) with bioactive ligands and/or secondary polymeric layers is a common strategy to govern the interaction of NPs with cells, proteins, and other biomolecules. But such surface engineering is not always so simple when the surface is chemically nonreactive. Because of this, NP surface modification processes generally employ reactive connector or coupling agents or prefunctionalization of the polymer, which are very tricky and ineffective. However, prefunctionalization of polymers can reduce the ability of drug encapsulation efficiency if the inserted ligands hamper the chemical properties of the polymer. To solve this issue, scientists have discovered a method of dopamine polymerization as a way of NP surfaces functionalization. In brief, this method involves the incubation of raw NPs in a weak alkaline solution of dopamine and subsequent incubation with ligands. This reaction furnishes a universal coating of polydopamine for metals, polymers, and ceramics, irrespective of their physicochemical characteristics. Polydopamine-based surface modified nanomaterials emerge as novel nanocomposite and get the interests in the area of drug delivery and therapy because of their unique physicochemical features, such as multifaceted adhesive property, great chemical reactivity, exceptional biocompatibility and biodegradability, and strong photothermal conversion capacity. This chapter highlights the recent development of polydopamine-based surface modified polymeric nanoparticles for smart drug delivery and therapy.