Apparatus and method for polymer synthesis using arrays

Patent · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:870190

Brennan, Thomas M ^[1]

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1. San Francisco, CA

A polymer synthesis apparatus (20) for building a polymer chain including a head assembly (21) having an array of nozzles (22) with each nozzle coupled to a reservoir (23) of liquid reagent (24) , and a base assembly (25) having an array of reaction wells (26). A transport mechanism (27) aligns the reaction wells (26) and selected nozzles (22) for deposition of the liquid reagent (24) into selected reaction wells (26). A sliding seal (30) is positioned between the head assembly (21) and the base assembly (25) to form a common chamber (31) enclosing both the reaction well (26) and the nozzles (22) therein. A gas inlet (70) into the common chamber (31), upstream from the nozzles (22), and a gas outlet (71) out of the common chamber (31) , downstream from the nozzles (22) , sweeps the common chamber ( 31 ) of toxic fumes emitted by the reagents. Each reaction well (26) includes an orifice (74) extending into the well (26) which is of a size and dimension to form a capillary liquid seal to retain the reagent solution (76) in the well (26) for polymer chain growth therein. A pressure regulating device (82) is provided for controlling a pressure differential, between a first gas pressure exerted on the reaction well (26) and a second gas pressure exerted on an exit (80) of the orifice, such that upon the pressure differential exceeding a predetermined amount, the reagent solution (76) is expelled from the well (26) through the orifice (74). A method of synthesis of a polymer chain in a synthesis apparatus (20) is also included.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA
• Assignee: Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5472672
• OSTI ID: 870190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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aligns
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apparatus
array
arrays
assembly
base
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capillary
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chain
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chain including
chamber
common
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controlling
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head
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including
inlet
liquid
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liquid seal
mechanism
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nozzle
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orifice
outlet
polymer
polymer chain
polymer synthesis
positioned
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pressure
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pressure regulating
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reaction
reagent
reagent solution
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reservoir
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selected
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size
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toxic
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upstream