Prepatterned substrate for optical synthesis of DNA probes
AssigneeNimblegen Systems Inc.
InventorsFrancesco Cerrina, Wei Huang
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Abstract
An optical alignment system for a device for synthesizing DNA polymers provides for a patterned substrate for simple alignment of the system. The substrate may also be used for synthesis allowing precise alignment of the synthesis substrate during each synthesis operation. The patterning of the substrate may be used to promote separation of reaction sites.
Claims38
A DNA synthesis apparatus comprising:
- (a) a reactor providing a pre-patterned substrate presenting an array of spatially separated reaction sites at which nucleotide addition reactions may be conducted;
- (b) a light source providing a light capable of promoting nucleotide addition reactions;
- (c) a pattern generator positioned along an optical path between the light source and the reactor to receive the light and impress a pattern on the light having illuminated portions corresponding to a subset of the separated reaction sites of the prepatterned substrate;
- and
- (d) projection optics projecting the pattern of light on the prepatterned substrate so that the illuminated portions align with the reaction sites.
A DNA synthesis apparatus comprising:
- (a) a reactor providing a support for a substrate presenting an array of spatially separated reaction sites at which nucleotide addition reactions may be conducted;
- (b) a light source providing a light capable of promoting nucleotide addition reactions;
- (c) a pattern generator positioned along an optical path between the light source and the reactor to receive the light and impress a pattern on the light;
- (d) projection optics projecting an image of the pattern at an image plane;
- (e) an alignment target positionable at the image plane, the target having a pattern providing moiré interference with the pattern.
A substrate for optical DNA synthesis of a type using:
- (a) a reactor for holding the substrate, (b) a light source providing a light capable of promoting nucleotide addition reactions, (c) a pattern generator positioned along an optical path between the light source and the reactor to receive the light and impress a pattern on the light having illuminated portions projected at the substrate, the substrate comprising:
- a substrate surface providing an array of spatially separated reaction sites at which nucleotide addition reactions may be conducted;
- and
- a pattern formed at the substrate surface corresponding with at least a portion of the illuminated portions of the pattern of light projected on the substrate when the substrate is in an aligned position.
A method of DNA synthesis comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a prepatterned substrate presenting an array of spatially separated reaction sites at which nucleotide addition reactions may be conducted in a reactor;
- (b) providing a light source capable of promoting nucleotide addition reactions;
- and
- (c) projecting a pattern of light having illuminated portions corresponding to a subset of the separated reaction sites on the prepatterned substrate so that the illuminated portions align with the reaction sites.
The method of claim 36 including the step of treating the reaction separation areas to provide for lesser light reflection than the reaction sites.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.