Recent Progress in Development and Application of DNA, Protein, Peptide, Glycan, Antibody, and Aptamer Microarrays

Microarrays are one of the trailblazing technologies of the last two decades and have displayed their importance in all the associated fields of biology. They are widely explored to screen, identify, and gain insights on the characteristics traits of biomolecules (individually or in complex solutions). A wide variety of biomolecule-based microarrays (DNA microarrays, protein microarrays, glycan microarrays, antibody microarrays, peptide microarrays, and aptamer microarrays) are either commercially available or fabricated in-house by researchers to explore diverse substrates, surface coating, immobilization techniques, and detection strategies. The aim of this review is to explore the development of biomolecule-based microarray applications since 2018 onwards. Here, we have covered a different array of printing strategies, substrate surface modification, biomolecule immobilization strategies, detection techniques, and biomolecule-based microarray applications. The period of 2018-2022 focused on using biomolecule-based microarrays for the identification of biomarkers, detection of viruses, differentiation of multiple pathogens, etc. A few potential future applications of microarrays could be for personalized medicine, vaccine candidate screening, toxin screening, pathogen identification, and posttranslational modifications.

Automated summary

Microarrays have become a pioneering technology in the last two decades and have proven their significance in various fields of biology. They are extensively used to screen, identify, and gain insights into the characteristics of biomolecules individually or in complex solutions. This review explores the development of biomolecule-based microarray applications since 2018, covering different printing strategies, substrate surface modification, biomolecule immobilization techniques, detection methods, and applications. The focus from 2018 to 2022 has been on using biomolecule-based microarrays for biomarker identification, virus detection, differentiation of pathogens, etc. Potential future applications include personalized medicine, vaccine candidate screening, toxin screening, pathogen identification, and posttranslational modifications.