Rapid polymerization of polyphenols

Abstract

This disclosure provides a method for polymerizing polyphenols to provide polyphenol polymers using peroxidase and similar catalysis. In various aspects, it provides a method for polymerizing a polyphenol (e.g., polydopamine or a derivative or conjugate thereof) on a surface comprising polymerizing the polyphenol, a method for detecting an analyte comprising polymerizing a polyphenol, and an assay kit comprising a polyphenol (e.g., dopamine or a dopamine derivative). In one embodiment, a method for polymerizing a polyphenol includes contacting the polyphenol and an oxidant with an enzyme having peroxidase-like activity, under conditions sufficient to polymerize the polyphenol. In another embodiment, a method for depositing a polyphenol polymer (e.g., a polydopamine) includes providing, at a target site, an enzyme having peroxidase-like activity immobilized at the surface; and polymerizing, at the target site, a polyphenol in the presence of an oxidant and the enzyme to provide the polyphenol polymer, deposited on the surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.