and drugs, [21,22] and decrease the toxicity of biomaterials. [23] Finally, PDA can be used for sensing. PDA-containing biosensors have been used to detect various organic molecules, [24,25] biomolecules, [26,27] and metal ions. [28] Many sensing and biomedical applications of PDA have been realized through interfacing it with biomolecules such as DNA, enzymes, and antibodies. DNA has gained popularity in the last few decades as a functional polymer thanks to its high stability, low cost, and ease of synthesis. [29-34] More importantly, DNA can bind not only its complementary sequence but also a diverse range of other molecules by using DNA aptamers. [35] Catalytically active DNA sequences, known as DNAzymes, have also been discovered. [36] Combining the unique properties of PDA and DNA has produced many interesting hybrid materials. The surface of PDA is different from most inorganic and even other organic NPs, and understanding its surface interactions is critical for applications. Given the many papers on DNA-functionalized PDA which have been published, it is now a good time to summarize this topic, which was not previously reviewed. This review has two main purposes. First, it describes the interfacial interactions between DNA and PDA with a focus on methods to achieve noncovalent and covalent conjugates. Second, we review the representative applications of such conjugates. In the end, some challenges of the field are discussed, and a few future research directions are proposed. 2. Dopamine, Its Analogs, and PDA The extraordinary wet adhesion of some marine creatures, such as mussels, is caused by their secreted proteins that are rich in catecholamine groups. This has inspired scientists to develop a universal coating material that can mimic the natural wet adhesion. [37] Although dopamine is a catecholamine, PDA is not yet found naturally. PDA is a synthetic analog of melanin, and natural melanin exists in the color pigments of the skin, hair, and eyes of the human body. Melanin is produced by the aggregation and polymerization of catecholamines such as DOPA or tyrosine (Figure 1A). [38,39] To date, the polymerization pathways of dopamine are still unknown, but a few likely pathways have been proposed. [40-44] Polydopamine (PDA) is polymerized from dopamine under oxidative and basic conditions. PDA is a biocompatible material with great versatility for coating various surfaces and it can also form nanoparticles. DNA oligonucleotides are highly stable, and they can recognize a diverse range of molecules from complementary nucleic acids, proteins to small molecules and metal ions. To enhance the molecular recognition function of PDA, it is interfaced with DNA and the conjugates have achieved a wide range of applications in biomedical and analytical science. In this review, the chemistry of some catecholamines, including dopamine and PDA, is first briefly introduced and variables in the PDA synthesis are highlighted. Strategies to promote DNA adsorption on PDA are then discussed including the use of low pH and...