Marine mussel has mastered rapid and robust adhesion with diverse solid surfaces in wet/underwater conditions

due to dopa adhesion protein containing catechol group secreted by mussel. The mussel-inspired adhesives

which mimic the abundant dopa adhesion protein in mussels

can effectively bond to various substrates in dry/underwater conditions. In the last decade

many researchers have been devoted to synthesizing biomimetic polymer adhesives containing catechol structure

and to exploring the influence of polymer bulk and external environment on the adhesion properties of the adhesives. The recent research progress of mussel-inspired adhesives with catechol is reviewed from the aspect of adhesion mechanism and materials design.