Poly(norepinephrine): Ultrasmooth Material-Independent Surface Chemistry and Nanodepot for Nitric Oxide

摘要

Norepinephrine (NE) is a small-molecule catecholamine which has a variety of functions in the body. The most important function of NE is its role as a neurohormone and neurotransmitter for controlling responsiveness to stress and fear (Figure 1, bottom). In addition to its use in the brain, NE is also released into the bloodstream to maintain heart rate and blood pressure. Catecholamines are also found in underwater living creatures, such as mussels. The adhesive foot proteins in mussels are catecholamine-rich proteins in which the catechol is derived from a side chain of 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (DOPA; Figure 1, top), and the amine is a side chain of the basic amino acid lysine. Thus, the robust adhesion of mussels shares an interesting chemical similarity with a variety of other biological functions in neurons.