Device for chemical and biochemical reactions using photo-generated reagents

Abstract

This invention provides method and apparatus for performing chemical and biochemical reactions in solution using in situ generated photo-products as reagent or co-reagent. Specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention have applications in parallel synthesis of molecular sequence arrays on solid surfaces.

We claim:  
     
         28 . An apparatus for light controlled reactions comprising: 
 i) a substrate comprising a plurality of reaction sites; and    ii) an optical system for directing light to said substrate, said optical system comprising: a light source and a computer-controlled spatial optical modulator for selectively irradiating a plurality of the reaction sites.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said spatial optical modulator is a digital micromirror device.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said digital micromirror device comprises a plurality of individual rocking micromirrors.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said spatial optical modulator is a reflective liquid crystal display device.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said spatial optical modulator is a transmissive liquid crystal display device.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a computer configured to control the irradiation pattern.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 28  comprising at least one filter in-line with the light source, wherein said filter is configured to transmit a desired wavelength.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said substrate is transparent.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a reagent manifold having one or more inlets and one or more outlets, said manifold configured to direct at least one reagent solution to the reaction sites.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said reaction sites are isolated reaction wells.  
     
     
         38 . An apparatus for parallel synthesis of polymer arrays on a solid substrate comprising: 
 i) a solid substrate comprising isolated reaction sites;    ii) a light source;    iii) a digital optical projector for projecting light from said light source in a computer-controlled iradiation pattern onto selected reaction sites; and    iv) a reagent manifold having one or more inlets and one or more outlets, and configured to direct at least one reagent solution to the reaction sites.    
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said digital optical projector is a digital micromirror device.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said digital micromirror device comprises a plurality of individual rocking micromirrors.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said spatial optical modulator is a reflective liquid crystal display device.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said spatial optical modulator is a transmissive liquid crystal display device.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a computer configured to control the irradiation pattern.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , comprising at least one filter in-line with the light source, wherein said filter is configured to transmit a desired wavelength.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said substrate is transparent.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said reaction sites are isolated reaction wells.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said light source is a mercury lamp.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said light source is a xenon lamp.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said light source is a halogen lamp.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said light source is a laser.  
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         52 . An apparatus comprising: 
 i) a substrate comprising a plurality of isolated reaction sites;    ii) a light source;    iii) a digital micromirror device configured to direct light from said light source to selectively irradiate said plurality of isolated reaction sites in a computer-controlled irradiation pattern; and    iv) a reagent manifold comprising one or more inlets and one or more outlets and configured to deliver at least one reagent to said reaction sites.