Surface　imprinting　over　nanostructured　matrices　is　an　effective　solution　to　overcome　template　removal　and　achieve　high　binding　capacity.　In　this　work,　a　facile　method　was　developed　for　synthesis　of　polydopamine-coated　molecularly　imprinted　silica　nanoparticles　(PDA-coated　MIP　silica　NPs)　based　on　self-polymerization　of　dopamine　(DA)　on　the　surface　of　silica　NPs　in　the　presence　of　template　protein.　Transmission　electronic　microscopy　(TEM),　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　(FT-IR)　and　thermogravimetric　analysis　(TGA)　showed　that　PDA　layers　were　successfully　attached　on　the　surface　of　silica　NPs　and　the　corresponding　thickness　was　about　5.　nm,　which　enabled　the　MIP　silica　NPs　to　have　fast　binding　kinetics　and　high　binding　capacity.　Under　the　aqueous　media,　the　imprinted　silica　NPs　showed　much　higher　binding　affinity　toward　template　than　non-imprinted　(NIP)　silica　NPs.　The　protein　recognition　properties　were　examined　by　single-protein　or　competitive　batch　rebinding　experiments　and　rebinding　kinetics　study,　validating　that　the　imprinted　silica　NPs　have　high　selectivity　for　the　template.　The　resultant　BHb-MIP　silica　NPs　could　not　only　selectively　separate　BHb　from　the　protein　mixture,　but　also　specifically　deplete　high-abundance　BHb　from　cattle　whole　blood.　In　addition,　the　stability　and　regeneration　were　also　investigated,　which　indicated　that　the　imprinted　silica　NPs　had　excellent　reusability.　©　2013　Elsevier　B.V.