Disclosed is a process to construct multi-component biomolecule or cellular arrays suitable for use in SPR imaging studies of large molecule, cellular/molecular, and cell/cell interactions. Also disclosed are the resulting arrays. The success of the procedure hinges on the use of a reversible protecting group to modify reversibly -functionalized alkanethiols self-assembled on metal substrates. The arrays themselves include a metal substrate, a continuous layer of an identical -modified alkanthiol adhered to the metal substrate, and one or more discrete spots of biomolecules or cells directly bonded to the continuous layer of -modified alkenthiol. The areas of the continuous layer of -modified alkenthiol not covered by one of the discrete spots are covered by a background material resistant to non-specific protein binding.