A new strategy for in situ synthesis of oligonucleotides arrays for DNA chip technology

摘要

We show in this paper the principle and the application of a new approach to the fabrication of oligonucleotide probe arrays on a silicon substrate structured with microwells. This new strategy uses a principle of selective protection by a polymer for in situ oligonuceotides synthesis. The polymer is deposited on chosen microwells before one of the four steps of the DNA synthesis based on phosphoramidite chemistry. The process combines an automatic synthesizer with a micro drop dispenser for spatially localized deposition of the protective polyrner. A great choice of polymer/solvent couples allows the integration of the process in the synthesis cycle of an automated synthesizer. The preliminary results for the growing of oligonucleotides (20 nucleotides in length) in a multi step fashion are described and discussed. Coupling efficiencies, synthesis yield and obtained sequence purity, show the possibility of protective polymer strategy for the in situ synthesis DNA chip fabrication.