Beads arraying and beads used in DNA chips

The present article draws a general picture of the bead assisted DNA immobilization on chips. The authors wish to present these systems since really interesting results in terms of sensitivity, generic aspect, and throughput were observed when using immobilization based on beads. These characteristics are linked to an increase of the specific chip surface and, to the handling and arraying of a large number of different beads having particular properties. Each type of bead could then be involved in a particular chemical process and used on chips, increasing the potential immobilization. The nucleic acid immobilization chemistry involved is detailed and presented together with the bead arraying or the bead immobilization systems, respectively.