Modular Toolbox as Snap Jewelry for Biomimetic Synthesis of Multifunctional Amino Acid Surfactants Inspired by Melanin

Amino acid surfactants have gained significant importance in overcoming the limitations of conventional surfactants, notably, their low biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the current amino acid surfactants lack multifunctional properties due to the nonreactivity of their aliphatic chains, necessitating the development of a new type of amino acid surfactant. A novel melanin-like amino acid surfactant and a biomimetic synthesis route were devised by mimicking the biosynthesis of melanin. Renewable natural polyphenol compounds with catechol moieties were utilized as building blocks for the hydrophobic group. In a proof-of-concept experiment, ethyl protocatechuate was oxidized to o-quinone and subsequently covalently linked to the amino group of lysine via Michael addition. The chemical structure was verified using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy. The melanin-like amino acid surfactant exhibited excellent surface-active properties, with a critical micelle concentration of 1.59 mN m –1 . Furthermore, it demonstrated remarkable emulsifying, foaming, solubilizing, dispersing, and wetting capabilities. Notably, it also possessed multifunctionality, including antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, robustness, and mildness. These outstanding properties indicate significant potential for various applications. This strategy offers innovative insights and a versatile, modular toolbox for synthesizing multifunctional amino acid surfactants that mimic melanin. The approach allows for the easy interchange of o-quinone building blocks, which is akin to snap jewelry.