Communication Macromolecular Rapid Communications wileyonlinelibrary.com 1486 © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim DOI: 10.1002/marc.201500184 1. Introduction Nature fascinates researchers by its remarkable mate- rials: gecko feet, lotus leaves, spider silk, butterfly wings are just a few examples for scientific inspiration. These materials possess interesting and unique properties, The functionalization of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles by poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) brush is completed by the combination of a mussel inspired biomimetic anchoring group and Huisgen cyclo-addition “click chemistry.” Herein, the direct coupling of an azide modified cat- echol derivative with an alkyne end-functionalized P3HT is described. This macromolecular binding agent is used to access core@corona ZnO@P3HT with a stable and homogeneous con- jugated organic corona. Preliminary photoluminescence measurement proves an efficient electron transfer from the donor P3HT to the acceptor ZnO nanoparticles upon grafting, thus demonstrating the potential of such a com- bination in organic electronics. Biomimetic Mussel Adhesive Inspired Anchor to Design ZnO@Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) Hybrid Core@Corona Nanoparticles Hussein Awada, Leila Mezzasalma, Sylvie Blanc, Delphine Flahaut, Christine Dagron-Lartigau, Joël Lyskawa, Patrice Woisel, Antoine Bousquet,* Laurent Billon* Dr. H. Awada, L. Mezzasalma, Dr. C. Dagron-Lartigau, Dr. A. Bousquet, Prof. L. Billon IPREM CNRS-UMR 5254 Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour Equipe de Physique et Chimie des Polymere Hélioparc 2 avenue Président Angot 64053, Pau Cedex 9, France E-mail: antoine.bousquet@univ-pau.fr; laurent.billon@univ-pau.fr Dr. S. Blanc, Dr. D. Flahaut IPREM CNRS-UMR 5254 , Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Equipe de Chimie Physique, Hélioparc, 2 avenue Président Angot 64053, Pau Cedex 9, France Dr. J. Lyskawa, Prof. P. Woisel Unité Matériaux et Transformations CNRS UMR 8207 – Université de Lille 1, ENSCL, Bât. C6 59655 Villeneuve d’Ascq, France which drive the development of new smart and respon- sive synthetic materials. Mussels are adapted to survive in tidal zones where they strongly attach to many substrates such as rocks, wooden piers, metal bridges, or ships. In 1981, catechols have been identified by Waite and Tanzer to be the main functionality responsible for the versa- tile adhesion of mussels in the most inhospitable regions (under very harsh and wet conditions). [1] This amazing behavior inspired scientist to functionalize different sub- strates using catechols or 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine. [2] Specific adhesion mechanisms of these molecules to sur- faces are still not completely understood but seem to be substrate dependent. [3] However, in all cases, covalent or strong noncovalent interactions can be found between catechol groups and inorganic substrates. [4] As far as metal oxides are concerned, catechol groups are assumed to form bidentate bonding with the surfaces. [5] Polymer chemists have recently started to use cat- echol to graft different kinds of macromolecules such as polypeptides, [6] glycopolymers, [7] poly(ethylene glycol), [8] or polynorbornene derivative made via ROMP. [9] Con- trolled radical polymerization has also been combined with catechol to surface initiate the oligo ethylene glycol Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2015, 36, 1486−1491