Stabilization of the immobilized linkers and DNA probes for DNA microarray fabrication by end-capping of the remaining unreacted silanol on the glass

High stability of the oligonucleotides immobilized on the glass is essential for the reliable DNA microarray analysis. In the present study, effect of end-capping of the unreacted silanol, remaining after the surface amine-functionalization, was explored: (1) Cy3-NHS (N-hydorxysuccinincimide) dye was spotted on the surface and change in the fluorescent intensity was measured. (2) DNA probes were immobilized by the reactivity of oxanine linked at the 5’-end, the complementary oligonucleotides with Cy5-fluorescence at the 5’-end was hybridized, and the time-dependence of the fluorescence intensity was observed. Both the systems showed improved stability of the immobilized molecules, indicative of the stabilization by end-capping.