title: Bioinspired polymerization of dopamine to generate melanin-like nanoparticles having an excellent free-radical-scavenging property.
abstract: Melanin-like nanoparticles were synthesized with size control through neutralization of dopamine hydrochloride with NaOH, followed by spontaneous air oxidation of dopamine. Although the particle characteristic of natural melanins was understood to be significantly affected by the biological and structural environment, melanin-lke nanoparticles can be realized through the chemical reactions only. Melanin-like nanoparticles that are <100 nm showed excellent dispersion stability in water as well as biological media and good biocompatibility to HeLa cells after the appropriate surface modification with thiol-terminated methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG-SH). Furthermore, the demonstrated ability of melanin-like nanoparticles to reduce 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) suggests free radical scavenging activity of the material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kuk-Youn
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Yuwon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sanghee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin-Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D004298:Dopamine / Q000737:chemistry*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008543:Melanins; D010851:Picrates; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D004298:Dopamine