Mussels attach to wet surfaces in the ocean, requiring strong, rapid, and tough adhesion to avoid being dislodged by waves. Due to the lack of synthetic adhesives for wet surfaces, researchers have focused on mimicking mussel adhesive chemistry, which includes Dopa, a catecholic functionality. Mussel adhesives and coatings have been studied to understand how they overcome water's high dielectric and solvation properties, which typically hinder adhesion. Mussel byssus, the holdfast, consists of threads, plaques, and roots, enabling secure attachment to surfaces. The byssus is essential for mussels to resist wave forces and is composed of proteins like mfp-1 to mfp-6, which contain Dopa and have various roles in adhesion and redox balance. The byssal plaques have a hierarchical structure with a hard outer layer and a porous core, providing mechanical strength and resistance to wear. The proteins in the byssus interact with surfaces through various mechanisms, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and metal coordination. Dopa plays a crucial role in adhesion, especially in aqueous environments, and its oxidation can affect adhesion strength. Synthetic polymers inspired by mussel adhesives have been developed, incorporating Dopa or catechol groups to achieve strong adhesion in wet conditions. These polymers show promise for biomedical applications, such as wound closure and tissue repair, due to their ability to adhere to wet surfaces and resist degradation. The study highlights the importance of understanding mussel adhesion mechanisms to develop effective synthetic adhesives for wet environments.Mussels attach to wet surfaces in the ocean, requiring strong, rapid, and tough adhesion to avoid being dislodged by waves. Due to the lack of synthetic adhesives for wet surfaces, researchers have focused on mimicking mussel adhesive chemistry, which includes Dopa, a catecholic functionality. Mussel adhesives and coatings have been studied to understand how they overcome water's high dielectric and solvation properties, which typically hinder adhesion. Mussel byssus, the holdfast, consists of threads, plaques, and roots, enabling secure attachment to surfaces. The byssus is essential for mussels to resist wave forces and is composed of proteins like mfp-1 to mfp-6, which contain Dopa and have various roles in adhesion and redox balance. The byssal plaques have a hierarchical structure with a hard outer layer and a porous core, providing mechanical strength and resistance to wear. The proteins in the byssus interact with surfaces through various mechanisms, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and metal coordination. Dopa plays a crucial role in adhesion, especially in aqueous environments, and its oxidation can affect adhesion strength. Synthetic polymers inspired by mussel adhesives have been developed, incorporating Dopa or catechol groups to achieve strong adhesion in wet conditions. These polymers show promise for biomedical applications, such as wound closure and tissue repair, due to their ability to adhere to wet surfaces and resist degradation. The study highlights the importance of understanding mussel adhesion mechanisms to develop effective synthetic adhesives for wet environments.