Methods are provide for modifying a solid support, such as a glass slide, by silylating with an agent having the formula H2N—(CH2)n—SiX3 where n is between 1 and 10, and X is independently chosen from OMe, OEt, Cl, Br, or I, then activating with a crosslinking reagent, followed by reacting with an amine-containing polymer. The support can optionally be reacted with a crosslinking reagent again. The support thus modified may be used to make arrays and microarrays where a plurality of targets are stably associated with the support and arranged in a defined manner.