The Importance and Use of Polydopamine in Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Electrochemical Sensor Design

Due to their natural biocompatibility, cost-effectiveness, and strong interfacial adhesion, biopolymers have highly favorable properties for electrochemical biosensors. Due to this endogenous catecholamine's versatile chemistry, dopamine's oxidation and self-polymerization have recently attracted considerable interest. Polydopamine (PDA)'s application to surface deposition, molecular imprinting, and electrochemistry is especially noteworthy. This review aims to propose the role of PDA in quantitative applications, evaluate the analytical performance, cost, reproducibility, and versatility of the methods developed, and evaluate standard (bio)analytical platforms. First, the parameters and methods that influence the polymerization of dopamine are discussed. Then, different functionalities of PDA and its recent applications for different biosensing purposes are reviewed to build bioanalytical platforms. The discussion concludes with emerging applications of PDA-integrated biosensor platforms. Finally, future perspectives for improved use of PDA in bioanalytical applications are discussed.