Nanoparticles modified by polydopamine: Working as “drug” carriers

Inspired by the mechanism of mussel adhesion, polydopamine (PDA), a versatile polymer for surface modification has been discovered. Owing to its unique properties like extraordinary adhesiveness, excellent biocompatibility, mild synthesis requirements, as well as distinctive drug loading approach, strong photothermal conversion capacity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging facility, various PDA-modified nanoparticles have been desired as drug carriers. These nanoparticles with diverse nanostructures are exploited in multifunctions, consisting of targeting, imaging, chemical treatment (CT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), tissue regeneration ability, therefore have attracted great attentions in plenty biomedical applications. Herein, recent progress of PDA-modified nanoparticle drug carriers in cancer therapy, antibiosis, prevention of inflammation, theranostics, vaccine delivery and adjuvant, tissue repair and implant materials are reviewed, including preparation of PDA-modified nanoparticle drug carriers with various nanostructures and their drug loading strategies, basic roles of PDA surface modification, etc. The advantages of PDA modification in overcoming the existing limitations of cancer therapy, antibiosis, tissue repair and the developing trends in the future of PDA-modified nanoparticle drug carriers are also discussed.