An article including: a substrate; and at least one immobilization site on the substrate comprising at least one nucleic acid immobilization site, each site having a first layer of a tie agent in contact with the substrate, and a second layer of a dendrimer mobilizing agent in contact with the first layer. Also disclosed is a method of making and a method of using the article.

A gene chip includes a chip carrier, a plurality of DNA nanoballs assembled on the chip carrier, and a polymer film formed on the chip carrier and wrapping the DNA nanoballs. The polymer film includes at least one of a film of a positively charged polymer, a film of a positively charged polymer which is modified, a film of a zwitterionic polymer, and a composite polymer film. The composite polymer film is formed by a layer-by-layer self-assembly process of a positively charged polymer and a negatively charged polymer. The gene chip has good sequencing quality and different functions can be achieved by coating with different polymers, such as the chip surface rapidly drying out and surface non-specific adsorption. A method of preparing a gene chip is further disclosed.

A method includes forming a patterned substrate including a plurality of base pads, using a nano-imprint lithography process. A capture substance is attached to each of the plurality of base pads, optionally through a linker, the capture substance being adapted to promote capture of a target molecule.

A method of depositing single particles onto a target includes loading a particle suspension to a droplet dispenser having a suspension reservoir and a nozzle section, detecting particles in the nozzle section, testing a single particle condition of the droplet dispenser, and determining whether an ejection region of the nozzle section includes one single particle. The method further includes operating the droplet dispenser for dispensing a droplet such that the droplet is dispensed onto the target if the single particle condition is fulfilled, or the droplet is dispensed into a collection reservoir if the single particle condition is not fulfilled. The step of testing the single particle condition further includes determining whether a sedimentation region adjacent to the ejection region is free of particles. A dispenser for performing the method is also provided.

High surface area coatings are applied to solid substrates to increase the surface area available for solid-phase synthesis of polymers. The high surface area coatings use three-dimensional space to provide more area for functional groups to bind polymers than an untreated solid substrate. The polymers may be oligonucleotides, polypeptides, or another type of polymer. The solid substrate is a rigid supportive layer made from a material such as glass, a silicon material, a metal material, and plastic. The coating may be thin films, hydrogels, microparticles. The coating may be made from a metal oxide, a high-κ dielectric, a low-κ dielectric, an etched metal, a carbon material, or an organic polymer. The functional groups may be hydroxyl groups, amine groups, thiolate groups, alkenes, n-alkenes, alkalines, N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-activated esters, polyaniline, aminosilane groups, silanized oxides, oligothiophenes, and diazonium compounds. Techniques for applying coatings to solid substrates and attaching functional groups are also disclosed.

Provided are systems and methods for analyte detection and analysis. A system can comprise an open substrate. The open substrate may be configured to rotate or otherwise move. The open substrate can comprise an array of individually addressable locations, with analytes immobilized thereto. The substrate may be spatially indexed to identify nucleic acid molecules from one or more sources, and/or sequences thereof, with the respective one or more sources. A solution comprising a plurality of probes may be directed across the array to couple at least one of the plurality of probes with at least one of the analytes to form a bound probe. A detector can be configured to detect a signal from the bound probe via scanning of the substrate while minimizing temperature fluctuations of the substrate or optical aberrations caused by bubbles.

Methods, compositions, and systems for distributing nucleic acids into array regions are provided. The methods, compositions, and systems utilize nucleic acid condensing agents to increase efficiency of distribution of the nucleic acids into the array regions. Various methods for facilitating distribution of the nucleic acids to the array regions are provided.

A fluidic device includes a plurality of reaction wells, typically in a dense array, with at least one bead retention segment in fluid communication with and spatially separated from at least one signal detection segment. A respective bead retention segment can be configured to hold a single bead, which can have a reagent attached thereto.

Methods, compositions, and systems for distributing nucleic acids into array regions are provided. The methods, compositions, and systems utilize nucleic acid condensing agents to increase efficiency of distribution of the nucleic acids into the array regions. Various methods for facilitating distribution of the nucleic acids to the array regions are provided.

Provided are systems and methods for analyte detection and analysis. A system can comprise an open substrate. The open substrate may be configured to rotate or otherwise move. The open substrate can comprise an array of individually addressable locations, with analytes immobilized thereto. The substrate may be spatially indexed to identify nucleic acid molecules from one or more sources, and/or sequences thereof, with the respective one or more sources. A solution comprising a plurality of probes may be directed across the array to couple at least one of the plurality of probes with at least one of the analytes to form a bound probe. A detector can be configured to detect a signal from the bound probe via scanning of the substrate while minimizing temperature fluctuations of the substrate or optical aberrations caused by bubbles.