Using micropatterned lipid bilayer arrays to measure the effect of membrane composition on merocyanine 540 binding

►Lipid microarrays were successfully used to model small molecule-membrane binding. ► Merocyanine 540 binding to lipid microarrays was measured using fluorescence microscopy. ► The impact of cholesterol on dye binding was dependent on the primary lipid component. ► Negatively charged lipids electrostacially repel the monomeric form of the dye from fluid phase bilayers.