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(OMA)的开发，使研究人员能够进行高通量的基因测试，包括用于疾病诊断和预测的全基因组表达监测和基因分型。目前，OMA的主要缺点是成本高和交货期长，这是由于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图案化OMA，导致每个新设计的设置成本都很高。这项提议的目标是开发一种商业仪器，它使用一种新技术，允许方便和经济地合成OMA。这种仪器将出售给有兴趣在自己的实验室以经济价格制造自己的OMA的研究人员。这项技术包括用计算机控制的镜片微阵列来制作“虚拟”面具。微镜阵列产生的光图案取代了昂贵的光刻掩模，并极大地减少了合成定制OMA所需的时间。已经确立了原则证明，证明了该建议的可行性。拟议的商业应用：目前，寡核苷酸微阵列非常昂贵(约1,000美元)，而且种类有限。获得所描述的仪器将使任何实验室能够在一夜之间快速合成定制的寡核苷酸微阵列，从而满足这一巨大、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.