Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
This paper describes studies of patterned arrays on glass surfaces and their use as spatially separated reactors for in situ synthesis of DNA using an inkjet synthesizer. Photolithographic methods were employed to fabricate arrays composed of homogenous circular features containing a hydroxyl-terminated silane coupled to the surface of the glass via a siloxane bond. Features are embedded within a background matrix composed of a fluorosilane attached to the glass. Due to the differential wettability of the two silanes, whereby the hydroxyl-terminated silane and fluorosilane are hydrophilic and hydrophobic respectively because of their head groups, the patterned circular features are able to constrain liquid within a defined site. The silanization result was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to optimize silanization time and solvent. Synthesis was then performed using a custom-built inkjet system using phosphoramidite chemistry. Base-by-base analysis using fluorescent labeling showed consistent coupling efficiency on synthesis of a 50-mer homopolymer.