Automated Modular System and Method for Production of Biopolymers

Abstract

The present invention provides an automated modular system and method for production of biopolymers including DNA and RNA. The system and method automates the complete production process for biopolymers. Modular equipment is provided for performing production steps with the individual modules arrange in a linear array. Each module includes a control system and can be rack mounted. One side of the array of modules provides connections for power, gas, vacuum and reagents and is accessible to technicians. On the other side of the array of modules a robotic transport system is provided for transporting materials between module interfaces. The elimination of the requirement for human intervention at multiple steps in the production process significantly decreases the costs of biopolymer production and reduces unnecessary complexity and sources of quality variation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A production system comprising:
 a synthesis system for synthesizing a polymer,
 the synthesis system comprising one or more channels comprising one or more solid supports for performing extension reactions thereon; 
   a quality control system for collecting quality control data; and   a closed loop software configured to enhance performance of the production system,
 the closed loop software using the quality control data and transmitting an instruction to the production system to enhance performance of the production system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the quality control system comprises equipment for assessing the quality of polymers. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the quality control system is configured to collect quality control data from at least one of an input reagent or an input material. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the quality control system is configured to obtain quality control information, and
 wherein the quality control information is provided to a customer via a customer interface.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels of the synthesis system comprise a plurality of channels,
 wherein the quality control system is configured to identify a particular channel of the plurality of channels which is not synthesizing correctly, and   wherein the synthesis system is adjusted to stop synthesizing the polymer using the particular channel and to continue to synthesize the polymer using the remaining channels of the plurality of channels.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the closed loop software is configured to enhance performance of the production system by calibrating one or more of: a system, an instrument, or a channel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the quality control data is collected from one or more of: a system, an instrument, or a channel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the quality control system comprises one or more systems for performing mass spectroscopy. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a biopolymer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the biopolymer is a polypeptide. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the biopolymer is an oligonucleotide or a polynucleotide. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the oligonucleotide is an RNA oligonucleotide and the polynucleotide is an RNA polynucleotide. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the oligonucleotide is a DNA oligonucleotide and the polynucleotide is a DNA polynucleotide. 
     
     
         14 . A method for synthesizing a polymer comprising:
 providing a production system comprising a synthesis system,
 the synthesis system comprising one or more channels comprising one or more solid supports for performing extension reactions thereon; 
   collecting quality control data from the production system using a quality control system, and   using a closed loop software to enhance performance of the production system,
 the closed loop software using the quality control data and transmitting an instruction to the production system to enhance performance of the production system; and 
   synthesizing a polymer on the solid support using one or more reagents.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein collecting quality control data from the production system using a quality control system further comprises:
 assessing the quality of polymers using the quality control system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein collecting quality control data from the production system using a quality control system further comprises:
 collecting quality control data from at least one of an input reagent or an input material using the quality control system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein collecting quality control data from the production system using a quality control system further comprises:
 obtaining quality control information using the quality control system, and   providing the quality control information to a customer via a customer interface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more channels of the synthesis system comprise a plurality of channels, and
 wherein collecting quality control data from the production system using a quality control system further comprises:
 identifying, using the quality control system, a particular channel of the plurality of channels which is not synthesizing correctly, and 
   wherein using a closed loop software to enhance performance of the production system further comprises:
 stopping, using the synthesis system, synthesis of the polymer using the particular channel and continuing synthesis of the polymer using the remaining channels of the plurality of channels. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the closed loop software is configured to enhance performance of the production system by calibrating one or more of: a system, an instrument, or a channel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the quality control data is collected from one or more of: a system, an instrument, or a channel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the quality control data is collected using a quality control system comprising one or more systems for performing mass spectroscopy. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer is a biopolymer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the biopolymer is a polypeptide. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the biopolymer is an oligonucleotide or a polynucleotide. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the oligonucleotide is an RNA oligonucleotide and the polynucleotide is an RNA polynucleotide. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the oligonucleotide is a DNA oligonucleotide and the polynucleotide is a DNA polynucleotide.