A simple approach has been developed to functionalize various substrates, such as gold and polyvinylchloride, with dopamine methacrylamide—a molecule with adhesive properties that mimic those of mussels—to produce a versatile and general platform for subsequent surface modification. With active double bonds on the surface, various polymers, such as poly([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide(PMEDSAH) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)(PVP), can be grafted by conventional radical polymerization. Double bond surface functionalization and subsequent polymer grafting have been verified by static water contact angle, Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflectance(FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) measurements. Protein adsorption assays showed that the polymermodified substrates have good protein-resistant properties. Considering the advantages of facility, versatility and substrate- independence, this method should be useful in designing functional interfaces for bioengineering applications.
