A method of fabricating an array of biopolymers provides a shield for biochemical
reactions and biochemical reactants and is particularly useful for those reactions
and reactants that are susceptible to reaction with a component of the ambient
environment during the fabrication of the array. The method is applicable to the
conventional fabrication and synthesis methods used to fabricate a biopolymer array,
such as in situ synthesis of biopolymers on an array and the attachment of pre-synthesized
biopolymers on to an array. The method comprises applying a non-miscible fluid
(NMF) to the array surface where the biopolymers are being synthesized or attached.
The NMF is inert and insoluble with the biochemical reactants and other ancillary
materials in solution used in conventional synthesis or attachment of biopolymers.
The NMF provides a shield between the ambient atmosphere and the biopolymer synthesis
materials or the deprotected pre-synthesized biopolymer at the surface of the array
during the synthesis or attachment processes. The NMF may be applied as droplets
over each feature location on the surface or may be applied by flooding the surface
of the array to fully cover the features. Biomonomer or biopolymer solutions are
deposited into or through the NMF to the feature locations on the surface of the
array where the synthesis or attachment reactions are to take place using conventional
deposition equipment to eject the solutions into the NMF. The NMF provides a shield
for activated biomonomers that are susceptible to reaction with a component in
the ambient environment, such as moisture in the air. Moreover, the NMF provides
a shield for pre-synthesized biopolymers that are susceptible to evaporation when
deprotected for attachment to the array surface. The method provides a means by
which the potential reactivity of the activated biomonomer or deprotected biopolymer
with an ambient atmosphere component can be kept low. As a result, biopolymer arrays
can be more accurately fabricated.
