US 2003/0228422 A1 · Manufacture of arrays wtih varying deposition parameters

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for synthesizing a plurality of compounds on the surface of supports. The synthesis comprises a series of cycles of steps in which reagents for conducting the synthesis are deposited on the surface of the support to form the chemical compounds. At least one physical parameter of the deposition varies between cycles The method comprises conducting the synthesis in at least two sets of cycles, arbitrarily designated as a first set and a second set. Each cycle comprises at least one step of depositing reagents on a surface by means of droplet dispensing elements that traverse the surface of the support. At least one, and desirably all, of the following deposition parameters are employed as indicated: The number of times of repetition for a step of depositing reagents in at least one cycle of the second set is less than the number of times of repetition for a corresponding step in at least one cycle of the first set. The rate of deposition in at least one cycle of the second set is slower than or equal to the rate of deposition in at least one cycle of the first set. The rate of traversal of the dispensing elements over the surface of the support in at least one cycle of the second set is greater than such rate of traversal in at least one cycle of the first set.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A method for synthesizing an array of polymers on the surface of a support, said method comprising (a) initiating multiple cycles of depositing drops of reagents onto the surface of the support from drop dispensing elements, which elements optionally traverse the surface of the support, wherein at least one physical parameter of the drop deposition varies between cycles and (b) completing said multiple cycles to form said array of polymers.

A method for synthesizing a plurality of biopolymers on the surface of a support wherein said synthesis comprises steps in which reagents for conducting said synthesis are deposited on the surface of the support to form said biopolymers by droplet dispensing elements, said method comprising:

(a) a first set of cycles wherein each cycle comprises X number of the following steps:
(i) dispensing to said surface a first reagent for forming said chemical compounds wherein said first reagent is dispensed at predetermined locations by means of a plurality of droplet dispensing elements, all of which dispense said first reagent N number of times at a rate of A times per second, wherein said first reagent may be the same as, or different from, said first reagent of a previous step of said cycle, and
(ii) dispensing to said surface a second reagent for forming said chemical compounds wherein said second reagent is dispensed at predetermined locations by means of a plurality of droplet dispensing elements, all of which dispense said second reagent N′ number of times at a rate of A′ times per second, wherein said second reagent may be the same as, or different from, said second reagent of a previous step of said cycle and wherein said droplet dispensing elements traverse the surface of said support at a rate of traversal T, wherein N and N′ and A and A+ may be the same or different, and
(b) a second set of cycles wherein each cycle comprises Y number of the following steps:
(i) dispensing to said surface a third reagent for forming said chemical compounds wherein said third reagent is dispensed by means of a plurality of droplet dispensing elements, all of which dispense said third reagent M number of times at a rate of B times per second wherein in at least one cycle of the sets of cycles M is less than N and B is less than or equal to A, wherein said third reagent may be the same as, or different from, said third reagent of a previous step of said cycle, and
(ii) dispensing to said surface a fourth reagent for forming said chemical compounds wherein said fourth reagent is dispensed by means of a plurality of droplet dispensing elements, all of which dispense said fourth reagent M′ number of times at a rate of B′ times per second wherein M and M′ and B and B+ may be the same or different and wherein in at least one cycle of the sets of cycles M′ is less than N′ and B′ is less than or equal to A′ and wherein said fourth reagent may be the same as, or different from, said fourth reagent of a previous step of said cycle and wherein said droplet dispensing elements traverse the surface of said support at a rate of traversal U that in at least one cycle is greater than T.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Manufacture of arrays wtih varying deposition parameters

Life of this patent

Manufacture of arrays wtih varying deposition parameters

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44