A Batch-Type System for Large-Scale Solid-Phase Oligonucleotide Synthesis

Synthetic biopolymers (e.g., peptides, oligosaccarides and oligonucleotides) are being increasingly utilized for human, animal, plant and food applications. In particular, the use of synthetic nucleic acid derivatives with potent and specific biological activities as diagnostic and therapeutic agents has recently attracted a lot of attention. In response to the synthetic needs connected with these applications, we have developed an automated batch-type system for oligonucleotide synthesis. The most characteristic features of this apparatus are a highly flexible control and a specially designed delivery system, both of which are compatible with the synthetic procedures and chemistries most used at present; they also permit an easy up-scaling of the reactions, and are readily adaptable to future improvements