Recent studies have demonstrated that melanosomes in avian feathers contribute to colors. Melanosomes consist of different sizes and shapes of melanin particles. Polydopamine structures known as synthetic melanin, have been synthesized by oxidative polymerization in alkaline solution to generate particles of various size and shape to study structure and color correlations. Three kinds of polydopamine structure (sphere, rod, and hollow-sphere) can be achieved. Polydopamine spheres with diameter 80 nm to 250 nm are obtained by controlling the pH. Rod-shaped polydopamine nanostructures are prepared using aluminum oxide nanowires as templates. Hollow-sphere polydopamine structures are formed by coating silica particles with polydopamine, etching away the silica, leaving a hollow-sphere nanostructure. The thin optical film self-assembled by polydopamine particles can generate high purity color. These polydopamine structures can be characterized and confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These studies can advance our understanding of the synthesis of polydopamine and its role in the color and structure of avian feathers.

Avian-inspired, synthetic melanin nanostructures via self-oxidation polymerization of dopamine

251st National Meeting (2016)

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