Recent Advances in DNA Microarray Technology: an Overview on Production Strategies and Detection Methods

Over the past decades, there was a huge effort in molecular diagnostic science for developing fast and multianalysis assays. Thanks to the advances in sequencing of the human genome and all protein encoded, new technologies for diagnosis have been developed. Among the various technological solutions for diagnostic applications, the microarray technique attracted the attention of a wide range of research groups and industries. Microarrays are power methodology for the measurements of gene expression, bacterial/viral species identification, and mutation detection. The microarray capacity of a parallel and high-throughput monitoring of biomolecules triggered important applications in medical research, as well as in drug resistance and pharmacogenomics, together with the development of sensing applications for molecular diagnostics. The fabrication techniques today on the market, such as spotting, nanostamping, and photolithography, have been here described, as well as the most recent processes for an effective surface functionalization, aimed to a proper and reliable microarray printing. The detection strategies have been discussed as well.