Solid phase peptide synthesis processes and associated systems

A process for adding amino acid residues to peptides, comprising:

• flowing a first stream comprising amino acids;
• flowing a second stream comprising an amino acid activating agent;
• merging the first and second streams to form a mixed fluid comprising activated amino acids;
• and
• within about 30 seconds after merging the first and second streams to form the mixed fluid, exposing the mixed fluid to a plurality of peptides immobilized on a solid support.

A process for adding amino acid residues to peptides, comprising:

• heating a stream comprising amino acids such that the temperature of the amino acids is increased by at least about 1° C.;
• and
• exposing the heated amino acids to a plurality of peptides immobilized on a solid support,
• wherein the heating step is performed prior to and within about 30 seconds of exposing the heated amino acids to the peptides.

A process for adding amino acid residues to peptides, comprising:

• providing a plurality of peptides comprising protection groups, each peptide immobilized on a solid support;
• performing a first amino acid addition cycle comprising exposing amino acids to the immobilized peptides such that an amino acid residue is added to at least about 99% of the immobilized peptides;
• and
• performing a second amino acid addition cycle comprising exposing amino acids to the immobilized peptides such that an amino acid residue is added to at least about 99% of the immobilized peptides;
• wherein:
• the total amount of time between the ends of the first and second amino acid addition cycles is about 10 minutes or less and the protection groups comprise fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl protection groups and/or
• the total amount of time between the ends of the first and second amino acid addition cycles is about 5 minutes or less.

A process for adding amino acid residues to peptides, comprising:

• providing a plurality of peptides immobilized on a solid support;
• and
• exposing activated amino acids to the immobilized peptides such that at least a portion of the activated amino acids are bonded to the immobilized peptides to form newly-bonded amino acid residues;
• wherein an amino acid residue is added to at least about 99% of the immobilized peptides within about 1 minute or less.