Ultra-high-throughput microarray generation and liquid dispensing using multiple disposable piezoelectric ejectors.
The authors have constructed an array of 12 piezoelectric ejectors for printing biological materials. A single-ejector footprint is 8 mm in diameter, standing 4 mm high with 2 reservoirs totaling 76 micro L. These ejectors have been tested by dispensing various fluids in several environmental conditions. Reliable drop ejection can be expected in both humidity-controlled and ambient environments over extended periods of time and in hot and cold room temperatures. In a prototype system, 12 ejectors are arranged in a rack, together with an X - Y stage, to allow printing any pattern desired. Printed arrays of features are created with a biological solution containing bovine serum albumin conjugated oligonucleotides, dye, and salty buffer. This ejector system is designed for the ultra-high-throughput generation of arrays on a variety of surfaces. These single or racked ejectors could be used as long-term storage vessels for materials such as small molecules, nucleic acids, proteins, or cell libraries, which would allow for efficient preprogrammed selection of individual clones and greatly reduce the chance of cross-contamination and loss due to transfer. A new generation of design ideas includes plastic injection molded ejectors that are inexpensive and disposable and handheld personal pipettes for liquid transfer in the nanoliter regime.
Palo Alto Research Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. ben@parc.com
Huangpin Ben
HB
Hsieh
John
J
Fitch
Dave
D
White
Frank
F
Torres
Joy
J
Roy
Robert
R
Matusiak
Bob
B
Krivacic
Bob
B
Kowalski
Richard
R
Bruce
Scott
S
Elrod
D002460:Cell Line; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007281:Ink; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008904:Miniaturization; D008954:Models, Biological; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011327:Printing / Q000295:instrumentation*
D004247:DNA