Construction of DNA microarray on glass surface using efficient heterobifunctional reagent.

An efficient heterobifunctional reagent, N-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)-4-(N'-maleimidylmethyl) cyclohexanamide (TPMC) was developed for the immobilization of thiol-modified oligonucleotide on the unmodified glass surface. The heterobifuntionality of the reagent was utilized for construction of DNA microarray in which the triethoxysilyl functionality has specificity towards the glass surface while the maleimide functionality for thiol-modified oligonucleotides via stable thio-ether linkage. Immobilization of DNA has been achieved by two alternative approaches. The applicability of the reagent was explored by hybridization studies with the fluorescein labeled complementary DNA strand.