Epoxysilane microarray substrates provide a uniform, consistent surface for binding proteins and other molecules of interest.
The ultra-flat slides are UltraCleaned by a proprietary process and then coated by vapor depostion. This creates an exceptionally uniform, defect-free surface.
During the vapor-coating process only the epoxy moiety ‘touches’ the slide. UltraClean™ - the base substrate for this product - assures an ultra-flat, debris-free substrate. Our vacuum packaging in a non-contact, non-gassing storage box preserves the substrates until they’re ready for use.
Vapor-coating
Vapor-coating vs. the conventional ‘liquid-dip’ processes:
Previously, epoxy silanes have been applied through a ‘dip’ coating: A 1% solution of epoxy silane is mixed, and slides are ‘dipped’ for various lengths of time.
The major disadvantage of this method has been impurities, in both the raw silane as well as in the diluent, depositing impurities onto the glass.
One way of visualizing this is to repeatedly place 5-microliter drops onto an epoxy surface and observe their uniformity in apparent diameter as well as roundness. Poorly coated slides often exhibit non-round drops as well as significant differences in spot diameters.