This disclosure provides methods and devices for the label-free detection of target molecules of interest. The principles of the disclosure are particularly applicable to the detection of biological molecules (e.g., DNA, RNA, and protein) using standard SiO2-based microarray technology.

Some embodiments described herein relate to new polymer coatings for surface functionalization and new processes for grafting pre-grafted DNA-copolymers to surface(s) of substrates for use in DNA sequencing and other diagnostic applications.

A substrate comprising a coating of a masking material, and a plurality of discrete reaction zones onto which one or more binding agents are intended to be attached, wherein said zones are uncoated areas on the substrate.

A method including (a) providing an amplification reagent including an array of sites, and a solution having different target nucleic acids; and (b) reacting the amplification reagent to produce amplification sites each having a clonal population of amplicons from a target nucleic acid from the solution. The reacting can include simultaneously transporting the nucleic acids to the sites at an average transport rate, and amplifying the nucleic acids that transport to the sites at an average amplification rate, wherein the average amplification rate exceeds the average transport rate. The reacting can include producing a first amplicon from a nucleic acid that transports to each of the sites, and producing subsequent amplicons from the nucleic acid or from the first amplicon, wherein the average rate at which the subsequent amplicons are generated exceeds the average rate at which the first amplicon is generated.

A substrate comprising a coating of a masking material, and a plurality of discrete reaction zones onto which one or more binding agents are intended to be attached, wherein said zones are uncoated areas on the substrate.

A flow cell includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a first resin layer disposed over an inner surface of the first substrate; a second resin layer disposed over an inner surface of the second substrate; a first plurality of biological capture sites located at the first resin layer; a second plurality of biological capture sites located at the second resin layer; and a polymer layer interposed between the first resin layer and the second resin layer, such that the first substrate is attached to the second substrate via at least the first resin layer, the polymer layer, and the second resin layer, wherein the polymer layer defines a plurality of microfluidic channels that extend through polymer layer.

Methods of producing substrates having selected active chemical regions by employing elements of the substrates in assisting the localization of active chemical groups in desired regions of the substrate. The methods may include optical, chemical and/or mechanical processes for the deposition, removal, activation and/or deactivation of chemical groups in selected regions of the substrate to provide selective active regions of the substrate.

This disclosure provides methods and devices for the label-free detection of target molecules of interest. The principles of the disclosure are particularly applicable to the detection of biological molecules (e.g., DNA, RNA, and protein) using standard SiO.sub.2-based microarray technology.

A flow cell includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a first resin layer disposed over an inner surface of the first substrate; a second resin layer disposed over an inner surface of the second substrate; a first plurality of biological capture sites located at the first resin layer; a second plurality of biological capture sites located at the second resin layer; and a polymer layer interposed between the first resin layer and the second resin layer, such that the first substrate is attached to the second substrate via at least the first resin layer, the polymer layer, and the second resin layer, wherein the polymer layer defines a plurality of microfluidic channels that extend through polymer layer.

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.