Figure 3.

Microfluidic Chip Technology Coupled with Light-Activated Chemistries Hold Great Promise for the Massive Parallel Synthesis of Oligonucleotides

(A, B) On an array of tiny flippable mirrors, each mirror can be separately computer controlled (flipped to an “ON” or “OFF” position). Mirrors in the ON position reflect light onto their corresponding reaction chamber on a microfluidic chip (bright blue spots), leading to the incorporation of the nucleotide currently loaded on the chip (here, A-mix). Although all chambers receive the same nucleotide mix at any one time, no reaction occurs in the dark chambers (black spots). The process is repeated with the next nucleotide mix and a new light pattern, which specifies the chambers to incorporate the new nucleotide. After the last nucleotides are incorporated, the finished oligos are released from the chip and collected as a pool (B) actual size of a microfluidic chip holding 4000 sequence features. Reproduced with permission by LC Sciences, LLC, Houston, Texas.

(C) A magnified view of the interconnected microscopic reaction chambers on an Atactic microfluidic chip. Reproduced with permission by LC Sciences, LLC, Houston, Texas.