By mimicking melanogenesis found in nature, we are designing unnatural tyrosine derivatives that can undergo a melanin-like process in the presence of tyrosinase. Complex oxidant adducts, whose core structure is similar to melanin (also coined as polydopamine in surface chemistry), can be formed on various substrates that differ in chemical properties. In other words, the intended functionality (e.g., clickable, degradable, or initiator film) can be achieved on various substrates through enzyme-mediated reactions of tyrosine (or DOPA) derivatives under aqueous conditions.

Surface-initiated, controlled-radical polymerization (CRP), utilizing Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), is a well-known classical technique for forming dense polymer brushes on initiator-coated surfaces. However, it typically involves experimental processes and instruments to remove oxygen under ambient air conditions. Our main interest lies in circumventing these cumbersome steps while seeking optimized experimental conditions that can lead to the formation of dense polymer brushes under ambient air conditions. This interest is currently expanded by exploring other CRP techniques, such as Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT).