A gold electrode surface was modified using a dinuclear copper complex [Cu-2(II) (Ldtb)(mu-OCH3)](BPh4) and then coated with a chitosan film. This biomimetic polymer film-coated electrode was employed to eliminate the interference from ascorbic acid and uric acid in the sensitive and selective determination of dopamine. The optimized conditions obtained for the biomimetic electrode were 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 8.0), complex concentration of 2.0 x 10(-4) M, 0.1% of chitosan and 0.25% of glyoxal. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the concentration range of 4.99 x 10(-7) to 1.92 x 10(-5) M, and detection and quantification limits were 3.57 x 10(-7) M and 1.07 x 10(-6) M. respectively. The recovery study gave values of 95.2-102.6%. The lifetime of this biomimetic sensor showed apparent loss of activity after 70 determinations. The results obtained with the modified electrode for dopamine quantification in the injection solution matrix were in good agreement with those of the pharmacopoeia method. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.