US 6,508,988 B1 · Combinatorial synthesis system

Abstract

The present invention provides a chemical reaction apparatus for synthesizing an array of compounds and methods for using the same. In particular, the chemical reaction apparatus of the present invention comprises a solid support base, a first elastic member attached to the solid support base, and a first plurality of flow channels between the solid support base and the first elastic member. In addition, the solid support base comprises a functional group within at least a portion of the first plurality of flow channels for attaching compounds thereto. Optionally, the chemical reaction apparatus may further comprise a second plurality of flow channels which are in a different direction than the first plurality of flow channels. Moreover, the chemical reaction apparatus of the present invention can also include a second elastic member attached to the first elastic member. A plurality of pressure channels present in between the first and the second elastic members allows control of fluid flow within the first plurality of flow channels and/or the second plurality of flow channels.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A chemical reaction apparatus for synthesizing compounds, said reaction apparatus comprising a solid support base, a first elastic member interconnected to said solid support base, a first plurality of flow channels between said solid support base and said first elastic member, a second elastic member interconnected to said first elastic member, a plurality of pressure channels between said first elastic member and said second elastic member, and an elastomeric film that is disposed in between said flow channel and said pressure channel to regulate fluid flow through said flow channel, wherein said elastomeric film is deflectable into said flow channel in response to an actuation force applied to said pressure channel, said elastomeric film when positioned in said flow channel restricting fluid flow therethrough, wherein said solid support base comprises a functional group within at least a portion of said first plurality of flow channels for attaching compounds thereto.

A method for synthesizing a plurality of compounds comprising the steps of:

(a) pressurizing a chemical reaction apparatus, wherein said chemical apparatus comprises:
(i) a solid support base;
(ii) a first elastic member attached to said solid support base;
(iii) a first.plurality of flow channels and a second plurality of flow channels between the interface of said solid support base and said first elastic member, wherein said first plurality of flow channels intersects said second plurality of flow channels, and wherein at least a portion of said solid support base within the intersections of said first plurality of flow channels and said second plurality of flow channels comprises a functional group for attaching compounds thereto;
(iv) a second elastic member interconnected to said first elastic member;
(v) a first plurality of pressure channels between said first elastic member and said second elastic member, wherein said first plurality of pressure channels are aligned in between said first plurality of flow channels, and wherein said first plurality of pressure channels are capable of sealing at least a portion of said second plurality of flow channels when said first plurality of pressure channels are pressurized;
and
(vi) a second plurality of pressure channels between said first elastic member and said second elastic member, wherein said second plurality of pressure channels are capable of sealing at least a portion of said first plurality of flow channels when at least a portion of said second plurality of pressure channels are pressurized,
wherein said first plurality of pressure channels are pressurized to seal at least a portion of said second plurality of flow channels;
(b) adding a set of compounds to said first plurality of flow channels, whereby at least a portion of said set of compounds are attached to said solid support base to produce a solid-support bound compounds;
(c) removing substantially all non-attached compounds from said first plurality of flow channels;
(d) pressurizing said second plurality of pressure channels to seal at least a portion of said first plurality of flow channels;
(e) adding another set of compounds to said second plurality of flow channels, whereby at least a portion of said set of compounds are attached to said solid-support bound compounds;
and
(f) removing substantially all non-attached compounds from said second plurality of flow channels.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combinatorial synthesis system

Life of this patent

Combinatorial synthesis system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39