Polymeric　membranes　are　widely　applied　in　water　and　wastewater　treatment.　During　membrane　filtration,　membrane　hydrophilicity　is　essential　for　both　membrane　flux　and　fouling　resistance,　and　sufficient　mechanical　strength　is　also　critical　for　enduring　various　operational　condition.　In　the　last　10　years,　mussel-inspired　chemicals　have　become　a　promising　strategy　for　membrane　modification　due　to　their　universality　and　versatility.　Simply　immersing　membranes　into　a　basic　dopamine　solution　can　induce　a　hydrophilic　PDA　layer　on　the　membrane　surface.　Both　the　mechanical　properties　and　the　hydrophilicity　of　polymeric　membranes　are　altered　via　this　adhesion　procedure.　This　review　aims　to　expand　the　general　vision　on　controlling　PDA　based　hydrophilic　modification,　including　influential　factors　of　dopamine　self-polymerization　and　the　deposition　behavior　on　different　types　of　membranes.　In　addition,　advanced　dopamine-based　hydrophilic　modification　is　also　reviewed　where　PDA　serves　as　a　filler　or　an　intermediate　layer　to　optimize　the　membrane　separation　performance.　Finally,　some　critical　unsolved　challenges　are　discussed,　and　possible　directions　of　further　research　on　mussel-inspired　PDA　modification　of　polymeric　membranes　are　proposed.　©　2020　Institution　of　Chemical　Engineers