Abstract: A water soluble cationic peptide-containing graft copolymer exhibiting a number average molecular weight of from about 30,000 to about 500,000 are provided comprising:(a) a polymeric backbone containing or capable of modification to include free primary or secondary amine functional groups for reaction with an amino acid or peptide graft and exhibiting a number average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 250,000; and(b) an amino acid or peptide graft reacted with from at least about 5% to about 100% of the primary or secondary amine functional groups of the polymeric backbone, wherein said amino acid or peptide graft comprises at least one 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalaine (Dopa) amino acid or a precursor thereof capable of hydroxylation to the Dopa form.