Abstract: O-nitrobenzyl analogs that include a photoremovable protecting group that resists the nonspecific adsorption of biomolecules and a linking group for attaching the o-nitrobenzyl analog to a substrate are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for using o-nitrobenzyl analogs for creating patterned arrays of anti-ligands on a substrate so that a plurality of bioassays can be conducted simultaneously. In particular, the compounds disclosed are o-nitrobenzyl-polyethylene glycol-silanes, wherein the silane group serves to attach the compound to a substrate, the polyethylene glycol group resists the nonspecific adsorption of biomolecules. The o-nitrobenzyl group provides a photoactivatable functionality that allows the polyethylene glycol group to be selectively removed upon exposure to UV radiation and be replaced by an anti-ligand.