# Merging Modular Molecular Design with High Throughput Screening of Cell Adhesion on Antimicrobial Supramolecular Biomaterials

## TL;DR

This study uses a high-throughput polymer microarray to test how antimicrobial materials affect cell adhesion, showing better adhesion with antimicrobial peptides.

## Contribution

The novel use of supramolecular UPy-based microarrays to screen antimicrobial additives for cell adhesion.

## Key findings

- Cell adhesion is enhanced on spots containing antimicrobial peptides.
- The microarray approach efficiently evaluates combinations of additives for biological responses.
- The fabrication method allows systematic analysis of 194 different material combinations.

## Abstract

A polymer microarray based on the supramolecular ureido‐pyrimidinone (UPy) moiety is fabricated to screen antimicrobial materials for their ability to support cell adhesion. UPy‐functionalized additives, either cell‐adhesive, antimicrobial or control peptides, are used, and investigated in different combinations at different concentrations, resulting in a library of 194 spots. These are characterized on composition and morphology to evaluate the microarray fabrication. Normal human dermal fibroblasts are cultured on the microarrays and cell adhesion to the spots is systematically analyzed. Results demonstrate enhanced cell adhesion on spots with combinations including the antimicrobial peptides. This study clearly proves the power of the high throughput approach in combination with supramolecular molecules, to screen additive libraries for desired biological response.

Combinatorial high throughput screening using polymer microarrays has become an established method for discovering new biomaterials. This study creates a supramolecular ureido‐pyrimidinone (UPy) polymer microarray to screen antimicrobial materials for cell adhesion. Results show enhanced cell adhesion on spots containing (combinations of) antimicrobial peptides. This approach efficiently screens additive libraries for desired biological responses.