High-throughput screening of zwitterion-based coatings towards improved mechanical stability and drug-loading capacity

2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and zwitterionic polymers are currently considered the most extensively studied antifouling hydrogel coatings. However, systematic identification of these coatings to unleash their potential properties is tremendously under-represented. Here, we report a high-throughput optimizing strategy that combines highly miniaturized hydrogel synthesis and screening to fine design zwitterion-based hydrogel coatings. Compared with the traditional one-by-one synthesis and characterization methods, the proposed high-throughput strategy accelerated the discovery of candidate materials with a high-efficiency and cost-effective approach. To tailor multiple parameters of coatings, 1575 unique coating combinations with continuous gradients were prepared only required 600 µL reactant. The mechanical stability and drug-loading capacity of the coating spots were sequentially evaluated via immersion swelling, flow, tape-peeling, and dye-retaining tests. This strategy could efficiently reveal the composition/structure-function relationships of the hydrogel coatings and also other materials, which is promising for the rapid screening and design of desired implantable device surfaces.