Polydopamine as a versatile optical indicator for colorimetric and fluorescence-based biosensing

Beyond their well-established adhesive properties, polydopamine (pDA) and pDA-like materials are emerging as superior alternatives to conventional optical indicators in biosensing applications due to their exceptional biocompatibility, tunable optical properties, and high sensitivity, arising from their eumelanin-like physicochemical characteristics. These materials attract significant attention for their ability to function as optical probes and transducers, enabling precise and sensitive detection in complex biological environments. This review highlights recent advancements in developing pDA-based optical probes, emphasizing strategies for fine-tuning synthetic parameters to optimize material properties, clarifying the fundamental sensing mechanisms underlying pDA-based systems, and exploring their potential roles in addressing global healthcare challenges. By facilitating early disease detection, real-time monitoring, and targeted therapeutic intervention, pDA-based optical probes offer transformative solutions to pressing biomedical needs. Through a comprehensive examination of cutting-edge research, this review aims to illuminate how the unique attributes of pDA materials drive innovation in biosensing technologies and contribute to improved healthcare outcomes.