A Reliable, Label Free Quality Control Method for the Production of DNA Microarrays with Clinical Applications

The manufacture of a very high-quality microarray support is essential for the adoption of this assay format in clinical routine. In fact, poorly surface-bound probes can affect the diagnostic sensitivity or, in worst cases, lead to false negative results. Here we report on a reliable and easy quality control method for the evaluation of spotted probe properties in a microarray test, based on the Interferometric Reflectance Imaging Sensor (IRIS) system, a high-resolution label free technique able to evaluate the variation of the mass bound to a surface. In particular, we demonstrated that the IRIS analysis of microarray chips immediately after probe immobilization can detect the absence of probes, which recognizably causes a lack of signal when performing a test, with clinical relevance, using fluorescence detection. Moreover, the use of the IRIS technique allowed also to determine the optimal concentration of the probe, that has to be immobilized on the surface, to maximize the target recognition, thus the signal, but to avoid crowding effects. Finally, through this preliminary quality inspection it is possible to highlight differences in the immobilization chemistries. In particular, we have compared NHS ester versus click chemistry reactions using two different surface coatings, demonstrating that, in the diagnostic case used as an example (colorectal cancer) a higher probe density does not reflect a higher binding signal, probably because of a crowding effect.