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）的开发允许研究人员进行高通量遗传测试，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的主要缺点是其高成本和长的交付时间，这是由其制造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，从而导致每个新设计的高设置成本。该提案的目的是开发一种商业仪器，该仪器使用一种新技术，可以方便和经济地合成OMA。该仪器将以经济的价格出售给有兴趣在自己的实验室制造自己的OMA的研究人员。这项技术包括用计算机控制的微阵列镜子创建“虚拟”面具。由OMA阵列产生的光图案取代了昂贵的光刻掩模，并大大减少了合成定制OMA所需的时间。已经建立了原则证明，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1，000美元），并且只有有限的品种可用。使用所描述的仪器将允许任何实验室在一夜之间快速合成定制的寡核苷酸微阵列，从而满足市场在这一大型高增长领域的需求。

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.