Recent advances and applications of polydopamine-derived adsorbents for sample pretreatment

Sample pretreatment is a critical and essential step in almost all analytical procedures, especially for the analysis of biological and environmental samples with complex matrices. Dopamine molecules can easily self-polymerize under weak alkaline conditions, leading to a facile deposition of polydopamine (PDA) coatings on various surfaces. Since 2011, PDA chemistry has undergone significant expansion in its applications and is becoming one of the most attractive areas within the materials field. Here, recent advancements in the use of PDA-derived adsorbents for sample pretreatment were reviewed, with especial focus on surface modification strategies, extraction modes, and application fields. In addition, prospects of PDA-derived adsorbents for sample pretreatment are also proposed.