Melanin-like Polylevodopa Nanoparticles with Enhanced UV-shielding Performance Using Benzoyl Peroxide

Sheng Long; Cheng Chang; Bei Zhou; Defa Hou; Xu Lin; Yuan Zou

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3665-y

Your Location：

Home >

Browse articles >

Melanin-like Polylevodopa Nanoparticles with Enhanced UV-shielding Performance Using Benzoyl Peroxide

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-07-27

- Melanin-like Polylevodopa Nanoparticles with Enhanced UV-shielding Performance Using Benzoyl Peroxide
- Melanin-like Polylevodopa Nanoparticles with Enhanced UV-shielding Performance Using Benzoyl Peroxide
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 2026年44卷第8期页码：2648-2658
- Affiliations：
  
  a.National Joint Engineering Research Center for Highly-Efficient Utilization Technology of Forestry Resources, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
  b.State Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymer Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- Author bio：
  
  yzou24@swfu.edu.cn
- Funds：
  
  This work was financially supported by the Youth Foundation of Yunnan Province (No. 202501AU070046), the Programs of Science and Technology Department of Yunnan Province (No. YNQR-QNRC-2018-099), and the Opening Project of the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymer Materials, Sichuan University (No. sklapm2025-3-32).;The authors declare no interest conflict.Electronic supplementary information (ESI) is available free of charge in the online version of this article at http://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3665-y.The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the author upon request. E-mail: yzou24@swfu.edu.cn.
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3665-y
  中图分类号： [M
- 收稿：2026-01-06，
  
  录用：2026-03-12，
  
  网络首发：2026-05-14，
  
  纸质出版：2026-08-15
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
Long, S.; Chang, C.; Zhou, B.; Hou, D. F.; Lin, X.; Zou, Y. Melanin-like polylevodopa nanoparticles with enhanced UV-shielding performance using benzoyl peroxide. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 2648–2658

Sheng Long, Cheng Chang, Bei Zhou, et al. Melanin-like Polylevodopa Nanoparticles with Enhanced UV-shielding Performance Using Benzoyl Peroxide[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(8): 2648-2658.
Long, S.; Chang, C.; Zhou, B.; Hou, D. F.; Lin, X.; Zou, Y. Melanin-like polylevodopa nanoparticles with enhanced UV-shielding performance using benzoyl peroxide. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 2648–2658 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3665-y.

Sheng Long, Cheng Chang, Bei Zhou, et al. Melanin-like Polylevodopa Nanoparticles with Enhanced UV-shielding Performance Using Benzoyl Peroxide[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(8): 2648-2658. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3665-y.

摘要

This study presents a biomimetic strategy for efficiently synthesizing polylevodopa (poly(

-DOPA)) nanoparticles using benzoyl peroxide

yielding materials with tailored electronic structures and significantly enhanced UV-shielding performance for advanced protective coatings.

Abstract

We report a bioinspired

facile strategy for synthesizing melanin-like nanoparticles

via

highly selective room-temperature polymerization of levodopa (

-DOPA)

a native eumelanin precursor

using benzoyl peroxide. This method overcomes traditional synthesis limitations

yielding poly(

-DOPA) with covalently incorporated benzoyl fragments

and demonstrates significantly enhanced ultraviolet absorption for advanced photoprotective applications.

关键词

Keywords

references

D'Alba, L.; Shawkey, M. D. Melanosomes: biogenesis, properties, and evolution of an ancient organelle. Physiol. Rev. 2019 , 99 , 1−19..

Xiao, M.; Hu, Z.; Wang, Z.; Li, Y.; Tormo, A. D.; Le Thomas, N.; Wang, B.; Gianneschi, N. C.; Shawkey, M. D.; Dhinojwala, A. Bioinspired bright noniridescent photonic melanin supraballs. Sci. Adv. 2017 , 3 , e1701151..

Xie, W.; Dhinojwala, A.; Gianneschi, N. C.; Shawkey, M. D. Interactions of melanin with electromagnetic radiation: from fundamentals to applications. Chem. Rev. 2024 , 124 , 7165−7213..

Cao, W.; Zhou, X. H.; McCallum, N. C.; Hu, Z. Y.; Ni, Q. Z.; Kapoor, U.; Heil, C. M.; Cay, K. S.; Z. T.; Mantanona, A. J.; A. Jayaraman.; A. Dhinojwala.; D. Deheyn.; M. Shawkey.; M. Burkart.; J. D. Rinehart.; N. Gianneschi. Unraveling the structure and function of melanin through synthesis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021 , 143 , 2622−2637..

Xu, Y. T.; Hu, J. F.; Hu, J. J.; Cheng, Y. Y.; Chen, X. C.; Gu, Z. P.; Li, Y. W. Bioinspired polydopamine hydrogels: strategies and applications. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2023 , 146 , 101740..

Yang, P.; Zhu, F.; Zhang, Z. B.; Cheng, Y. Y.; Wang, Z.; Li, Y. W. Stimuli-responsive polydopamine-based smart materials. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2021 , 50 , 8319−8343..

Wang, C.; Zhang, R.; Zhang, J. H.; Zhang, X. Q.; Zhang, H. J.; Cao, H.; Yang, Z.; Li, Y. W. Synthetic fungal melanin UV absorbers. Sci. China Chem. 2024 , 67 , 3098−3110..

Yang, P.; Gu, Z.; Zhu, F.; Li, Y. Structural and functional tailoring of melanin-like Polydopamine radical scavengers. CCS Chem. 2020 , 2 , 128−138..

Yang, Z.; Wang, X. H.; Bai, W. J.; Zou, Z. K.; Wu, H. X.; Li, Y. W. Structural disruption of melanin-like polymers with boosted UV protection. Sci. China Chem. 2024 , 67 , 1653−1663..

Chen, P.; He, S.; Wang, T.; Wang, C.; Tao, J.; Li, Y. Melanin-like nanofibers with highly ordered structures achieve ultrahigh specific electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency. Nat. Commun. 2025 , 16 , 7127..

Li, N.; Zhang, X. Q.; Zhu, J. Y.; Xiong, S. H.; Xu, Y. T.; Li, Y. W. Bioinspired flexible composite hydrogels for efficient solar steam generation and stable electricity harvest. Nano Lett. 2025 , 25 , 10072−10081..

Pei, C. Y.; Zhang, H. J.; Li, Y. W.; Gu, Z. P.; Chen, X. C.; Kuang, T. R. Robust and durable biodegradable polymer-based triboelectric nanogenerators enabled by trace amounts of melanin-like nanoparticles. Nano Energy 2025 , 135 , 18893−18900..

Yang, P.; Wang, T. Y.; Zhang, J. H.; Zhang, H. J.; Bai, W. J.; Duan, G. G.; Zhang, W.; Wu, J. R.; Gu, Z. P.; Li, Y. W. Manipulating the antioxidative capacity of melanin-like nanoparticles by involving condensation polymerization. Sci. China Chem. 2023 , 66 , 1520−1528..

Bai, W. J.; Liang, B.; Luo, B. G.; Wang, J. Y.; Zhang, H. J.; Zhang, X. Q.; Yang, L.; Xu, Y. T.; Li, Y. W. Ultra-High bromine removal from waste water and downstream high-value utilization using melanin-like polymers. Small 2025 , 21 , 2410496..

Zou, Y.; Chen, X.; Yang, P.; Liang, G.; Yang, Y.; Gu, Z.; Li, Y. Regulating the absorption spectrum of polydopamine. Sci. Adv. 2020 , 6 , eabb4696..

Zou, Y.; Liu, H. J.; Wang, X. H.; Xu, Y. T.; Yang, Y.; Bai, W. J.; Li, Y. W. Light harvesting modulation of melanin-like polymers via Thiol-Michael "click" chemistry. Macromolecules 2023 , 56 , 9530−9539..

Ito, S. Reexamination of the structure of eumelanin. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, Gen. Subj. 1986 , 833 , 155−161..

Sivasundarampillai, J.; Youssef, L.; Priemel, T.; Mikulin, S.; Eren, E. D.; Zaslansky, P.; Jehle, F.; Harrington, M. J. A strong quick-release biointerface in mussels mediated by serotonergic cilia-based adhesion. Science 2023 , 382 , 829−834..

Wang, X.; Zhang, J.; Li, H.; Zhang, R.; Yang, X.; Li, W.; Li, Z.; Gu, Z.; Li, Y. Qu aternary ammonium assisted synthesis of melanin-like poly(L-DOPA) nanoparticles with a boosted photothermal effect. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024 , 16 , 22493−22503..

Wang, X.; Zhang, J.; Yang, L.; Wang, T.; Duan, G.; Gu, Z.; Li, Y. Eumelanin-like poly(levodopa) nano scavengers for inflammation disease therapy. Biomacromolecules 2024 , 25 , 2563−2573..

[C. Tan.; C. D. Rudd.; A. J. Parsons.; N. Sharmin.; I. Ahmed. L-DOPA coating improved phosphate glass fibre strength and fibre/matrix interface. J. Mech. Behav. Biomed. Mater. 2022 , 136, 105480 . .

Tesoro, C.; Lelario, F.; Ciriello, R.; Bianco, G.; Di Capua, A.; Acquavia, M. A. An overview of methods for L-DOPA extraction and analytical determination in plant matrices. Separations 2022 , 9 , 224..

Kirby, G. W.; Ogunkoya, L. Structure of melanin derived from (±)-3,4-dihydroxy-[14C, 3H ] phenylalanine by oxidation with tyrosinase. Chem. Commun. 1965 , 21 , 546−547..

Str ube, O. I.; Büngeler, A.; Bremser, W. Site-Specific in situ synthesis of eumelanin nanoparticles by an enzymatic autodeposition-like process. Biomacromolecules 2015 , 16 , 1608−1613..

Wang, T. Y.; Fan, Q. Q.; Hong, J.; Chen, Z.; Zhou, J. H.; Dai, Y. Q.; Jiang, H.; Gu, Z. P.; Cheng, Y. Y.; LI, Y. W. Therapeutic nanoparticles from grape seed for modulating oxidative stress. Small 2021 , 17 , 2102485..

[Wang, T. Y.; Zhang, J. H.; Chen, Z.; Zhang, R.; Duan, G. G.; Wang, Z.; Chen, X. C.; Gu, Z. P.; Li, Y. W. sonochemical synthesis of natural polyphenolic nanoparticles for modulating oxidative stress. Small 2024 , 20 , 2401731..

Duan, J. J.; Huang, Y. Q.; Wei, F. Q.; Gao, Y.; Wan, F. S.; Feng, J. C. Processability and structure of dynamically modified linear low-density polyethylene with different branching contents using a high peroxide content. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026 , 44 , 87−99..

Wang, W. J.; Huang, C. H.; Guo, Z. X.; Yu, J. Preparation of POE/PS blends with fine particle sizes by diffusion and subsequent polymerization of styrene in POE pellets. J. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 35 , 939−949..

Liu, Y.; Shangguan, L.; Zhao, B.; Chen, B.; Shi, B.; Wang, Y. Cross-linked supramolecular polymer networks constructed by pillar[5 ] arene-based host–guest recognition and coordination/oxidation of catechol. Polym. Chem. 2022 , 13 , 3763−3767..

Li, F. M.; Chen, S. J.; Li, Z. C.; Qiu, J. Vinyl monomers bearing chromophore moieties and their polymers—X. initiation and photochemical properties of p-( N , N -dimethylamino) styrene and its polymers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 1999 , 17 , 563−570..

[Batten, J. J. 573. Structural effects in the reaction between benzoyl peroxide and phenols. J. Chem. Soc . 1956 , 2959-2966..

[Cosgrove, S. L.; Waters, W. A. 670. The oxidation of phenols with benzoyl peroxide. J. Am. Chem. Soc . 1949 , 3189−3194..

Denney, D. B.; Denney, D. Z. Studies of the mechanisms of the reactions of benzoyl peroxide with secondary amines and phenols. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1960 , 82 , 1389− 1393..

Wang, Z.; Wang, Z.; Pan, X.; Fu, L.; Lathwal, S.; Olszewski, M.; Yan, J.; Enciso, A. E.; Wang, Z.; Xia, H and K. Matyjaszewski. Ultrasonication-Induced aqueous atom transfer radical polymerization. ACS Macro Lett. 2018 , 7 , 275−280..

Tan, L.; Zhu, T.; Huang, Y.; Yuan, H.; Shi, L.; Zhu, Z.; Yao, P.; Zhu, C.; Xu, J. Ozone-Induced rapid and green synthesis of polydopamine coatings with high uniformity and enhanced stability. Adv. Sci. 2024 , 11 , 2308153..

Kim, K. W.; Thomas, R. L. Antioxidative activity of chitosans with varying molecular weights. Food Chem. 2007 , 101 , 308−313..

Okamoto, K.; Ohkubo, K.; Kadish, K. M.; Fukuzumi, S. Remarkable accelerating effects of ammonium cations on electron-transfer reactions of quinones by hydrogen bonding with semiquinone radical anions. J. Phys. Chem. A. 2004 , 108 , 10405−10413..

Yang, Z.; Zhang, J.; Liu, H.; Hu, J.; Wang, X.; Bai, W.; Zhang, W.; Yang, Y.; Gu, Z.; Li, Y. A bioinspired strategy toward UV absorption enhancement of melanin-like polymers for sun protection. CCS Chem. 2023 , 5 , 2389−2402..

浏览量

Downloads

CSCD

文章被引用时，请邮件提醒。

Submit

工具集

关联资源

Sunlight-induced Permanent Hair Dyeing

A Paradigm for BF3 Co-initiated Cationic Polymerization with Low Dispersity: Introducing Acetonitrile and Lowering the Reaction Temperature

Pyrimidoisoindigo-based Polymers for Ambipolar Charge Transport

On-demand Peelable UV-curable Adhesives with Superior Bonding Strength: Rational Molecular Engineering of Cohesion-adhesion Synergy

Squaramide-directed Cooperative One-dimensional Assembly in Telechelic Polydimethylsiloxane for Hierarchical Network Formation