Method and apparatus for microarray fabrication

• US 7,247,337 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Leproust, Eric M., Perbost, Michel G M, Reddy, Lalitha
• Primary Examiner(s): LIGHTFOOT, ELENA TSOY
• Application Number:
  US10/322,280
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 427/2.1, 427/2.11, 427/2.13, 427/154, 427/301, 427/331, 427/333, 427/337, 427/372.2, 427/384, 427/389.7, 427/407.1, 427/414
• US Class Current: 427/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00378 Piezoelectric or ink jet dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00497 Features relating to the solid phase supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00547 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0061 The surface being organic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00626 Covalent
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00662 Two-dimensional arrays within two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00675 In-situ synthesis on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00677 Ex-situ synthesis followed by deposition on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00731 Saccharides
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for micro array fabrication exclusive from the impact of a gas. A housing with a gas free chamber provides for improved micro array fabrication with a lower defect rate. The invention provides a housing that excludes a gas such as ozone to prevent interaction with probe construction or attachment. A method of fabricating a micro array in an ozone free environment is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

removing ozone from an environment by filtration to provide an ozone-reduced environment; and

fabricating a micro array in said ozone-reduced environment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said ozone-reduced environment is contained within a housing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said ozone-reduced environment is produced by filtering an atmosphere through a carbon filter.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring ozone levels in said environment.

2. A method for fabricating a micro array, comprising:

in an ozone-filtered environment;

(a) depositing a first polymer on a substrate surface;

(b) depositing a second polymer on said first polymer;

(c) drying said polymers; and

(d) curing said polymers to attach them to said substrate surface.

3. A method for fabricating a micro array, comprising:

(a) depositing a first polymer on a substrate surface;

(b) depositing a monomer stepwise on said polymer to produce a second polymer; and

(c) deprotecting said second polymer in an ozone-filtered environment.

4. A method for fabricating a micro array on a substrate surface, comprising:

(a) coupling an activated selected nucleoside through a phosphite linkage to said substrate surface to form a substrate bound nucleoside;

(b) protecting unreacted hydroxyl groups on said substrate bound nucleoside;

(c) oxidizing said phosphite linkage to form a phosphate linkage; and

(d) deprotecting said substrate bound nucleoside to generate a reactive site in an ozone-filtered environment.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein steps (a)-(d) are iterative.

6. A method comprising:

creating an ozone-reduced environment by filtration; and

fabricating a micro array in said ozone-reduced environment.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising monitoring ozone levels in said environment.

11. A method, comprising:

removing ozone from an environment by filtration to provide an ozone-reduced environment, wherein said ozone reduced environment is produced by filtering an atmosphere comprising a gas selected from the group consisting of;

ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, helium, neon, xenon, chlorine, fluorine, oxygen, and argon through a carbon filter; and

fabricating a micro array in said ozone-reduced environment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said ozone-reduced environment is contained within a housing.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring ozone levels in said environment.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said gas comprises a mixture of gases.