In　this　work,　we　describe　a　simple,　inexpensive　and　fast　method　for　the　generation　of　molecularly　imprinted　polymer　(MIP)　film　on　quartz　crystal　microbalance　(QCM)　crystals　using　mussel-inspired　polymer.　Commonly　known　as　a　neurotransmitter,　dopamine　is　also　a　small-molecule　mimic　of　the　adhesive　proteins　of　mussels.　Polymerization　of　dopamine　in　the　presence　of　template　molecule　(1,3,5-pentanetricarboxylic　acid,　an　analogue　of　domoic　acid,　in　this　case)　could　produce　an　adherent　molecularly　imprinted　polydopamine　film　coating　on　QCM　crystals.　Advantages,　such　as　high　hydrophilicity,　high　biocompatibility　and　controllable　thickness,　make　this　molecularly　imprinted　polydopamine　film　an　attractive　recognition　element　for　sensors.　Selective　rebinding　of　domoic　acid　on　mussel-inspired　molecularly　imprinted　polymer　(m-MIP)　coated　crystal　was　observed　as　a　frequency　shift　quantified　by　piezoelectric　microgravimetry　with　the　QCM　system.　The　decreasing　frequency　shows　a　good　linear　relationship　with　the　concentration　of　domoic　acid.　The　quantitation　limit　of　domoic　acid　was　5.　ppb　with　the　linear　range　of　0-100.　ppb.　The　QCM　sensor　has　high　selectivity　and　was　able　to　distinguish　domoic　acid　from　its　analogous　p-phthalic　acid　and　o-phthalic　acid　owing　to　the　molecular　imprinting　effect.　In　addition,　the　practical　analytical　performance　of　the　sensor　was　examined　by　evaluating　the　detection　of　domoic　acid　in　mussel　extracts　with　satisfactory　results.　It　is　envisaged　that　m-MIP　could　be　suitable　as　recognition　element　for　sensors　and　the　proposed　m-MIP　QCM　sensor　could　be　employed　to　detect　analyte　of　interest　in　complex　matrices.　©　2010　Elsevier　B.V.