Flow cell coating methods

A method, comprising:

• applying a water-soluble protective coating solution over either i) a patterned region of a patterned structure, the patterned region including depressions having at least a polymeric hydrogel therein and interstitial regions separating the depressions, or ii) a lane region of a non-patterned structure, the lane region including a lane having at least the polymeric hydrogel therein, whereby a hydrophobic bonding region of the patterned structure remains exposed;
• and
• drying the water-soluble protective coating solution to form a solid coating or a gel coating over either i) the patterned region or ii) the lane region.

A method, comprising:

• positioning a substrate, having a feature defined therein, with respect to a nozzle of a precision dispense tool such that an air gap between a surface of the substrate and a surface of the nozzle ranges from greater than 0 μm to about 100 μm;
• and
• dispensing i) an aqueous hydrogel solution, ii) a pre-grafted aqueous hydrogel solution, or iii) a water-soluble protective coating solution from the nozzle into the feature at a flow rate ranging from about 0.15 μL/s to about 20 μL/s, whereby the surface of the substrate surrounding the feature remains free of i) the aqueous hydrogel solution, ii) the pre-grafted aqueous hydrogel solution, or iii) the water-soluble protective coating solution.