DEVELOPMENT OF A MASKLESS ARRAY SYNTHESIZER

基因组测序项目和“DNA芯片”或高密度寡核苷酸微阵列（OMAs）的开发使研究人员能够进行高通量基因测试，包括全基因组表达监测和疾病诊断和预测的基因分型。目前，OMAs的主要缺点是其高成本和较长的交货时间，这是由于其制造过程中使用的光刻工艺造成的。必须制造大量昂贵的掩模来制作OMAs的图案，导致每个新设计的设置成本很高。这项建议的目标是开发一种商业仪器，使用一种新技术，使OMAs的合成容易和经济。该仪器将以经济的价格出售给有兴趣在自己的实验室中制造自己的OMAs的研究人员。这项技术包括用电脑控制的镜子微阵列制造“虚拟”面具。微镜阵列产生的光模式取代了昂贵的光刻掩模，大大减少了合成定制OMA所需的时间。已经建立了原理证明，证明了该建议的可行性。建议的商业应用：目前，寡核苷酸微阵列非常昂贵（约1000美元），而且可供选择的品种有限。使用所描述的仪器将允许任何实验室快速一夜之间合成定制的寡核苷酸微阵列，从而解决了这个庞大，高增长领域的市场需求。

Genome sequencing projects and the development of "DNA chips", or high- density oligonucleotide microarrays (OMAs), allow researchers to perform high throughput genetic tests, including genome-wide expression monitoring and genotyping for disease diagnosis and prediction. Currently, the major drawbacks of the OMAs are their high cost and long lead time, which result from the photolithography process used in their manufacture. A large number of expensive masks must be fabricated to pattern the OMAs, resulting in high setup costs for each new design. The objective of this proposal is to develop a commercial instrument that uses a new technology that allows facile and economical synthesis of OMAs. This instrument would be sold to researchers interested in fabricating their own OMAs in their own laboratories at an economical price. The technology involves the creation of "virtual" masks with a microarray of mirrors controlled by a computer. Patterns of light created by the micromirror array replace the expensive photolithography masks and greatly reduce the time required to synthesize a custom OMA. Proof of principle has already been established that demonstrates the feasibility of the proposal. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Currently, oligonucleotide microarrays are very expensive (about $1,000) and only a limited variety are available. Access to the described instrument would allow any laboratory to rapidly overnight synthesize custom oligonucleotide microarrays, thus addressed the market's needs in this large, high growth field.