In situ oligonucleotide synthesis on poly(dimethylsiloxane): a flexible substrate for microarray fabrication

• Published in: Nucleic acids research Vol. 33; no. 8; p. e75
• Main Authors: Moorcroft, Matthew J., Meuleman, Wouter R. A., Latham, Steven G., Nicholls, Thomas J., Egeland, Ryan D., Southern, Edwin M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.01.2005; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Dimethylpolysiloxanes - chemistry; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; Indicators and Reagents; Methods Online; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis - instrumentation; Oligonucleotide Probes - chemical synthesis; Oligonucleotide Probes - chemistry; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Silicones - chemistry
• ISSN: 0305-1048; 1362-4962
• DOI: 10.1093/nar/gni075

In this paper, we demonstrate in situ synthesis of oligonucleotide probes on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannels through use of conventional phosphoramidite chemistry. PDMS polymer was moulded into a series of microchannels using standard soft lithography (micro-moulding), with dimensions <100 μm. The surface of the PDMS was derivatized by exposure to ultraviolet/ozone followed by vapour phase deposition of glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and reaction with poly(ethylene glycol) spacer, resulting in a reactive surface for oligonucleotide coupling. High, reproducible yields were achieved for both 6mer and 21mer probes as assessed by hybridization to fluorescent oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotide surface density was comparable with that obtained on glass substrates. These results suggest PDMS as a stable and flexible alternative to glass as a suitable substrate in the fabrication and synthesis of DNA microarrays.