Immobilized buffer particles and uses thereof

A method for sequencing, the method comprising:

• disposing a plurality of support particles including template nucleic acids into a plurality of confinement regions, a confinement region of the plurality of confinement regions in sensing relationship with a sensor of a sensor array, the sensor configured to provide at least one output signal representing a sequencing reaction byproduct, each confinement region of the plurality of confinement regions having an opening exposed to a flow chamber;
• treating a reagent solution with buffer particles;
• and
• flowing through the flow chamber the reagent solution treated with the buffer particles incorporating immobilized buffering groups;
• introducing a nucleotide through the flow chamber and into the confinement region;
• and
• detecting an incorporation of the nucleotide onto a template nucleic acid of the plurality of template nucleic acids.