Hair dyeing based on DNAzyme-catalyzed oxidation of dopamine and natural pigments

DNAzymes have gained various applications in scientific fields, but their practical uses in everyday life are still being investigated. Hair dyeing, a popular cosmetic practice, still poses potential health risks, owing to the toxicity of commercial hair dyes. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of DNAzyme-catalyzed hair dyeing using natural pigments. We found that DNAzymes of peroxidase activity can expedite dopamine polymerization, resulting in the black coloration of human hair in around half an hour. This process can be achieved by using the milder Tris buffer to substitute the NH 4 OH with 0.1 mM H 2 O 2 . In addition, these DNAzymes can catalyze the polymerization of other natural pigments. Thus, our mild and rapid hair dyeing approach has the potential to substitute traditional harsh hair dyeing conditions and also provides new insights into the field of DNAzyme applications.