An open-source, 3D printed inkjet DNA synthesizer.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Synthetic Biology

Background:

• Synthetic oligonucleotides are crucial for synthetic biology, biosensing, and DNA storage.
• Accessible, reliable oligonucleotide synthesis equipment is vital for research security and expansion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Open-Source Inkjet DNA Synthesizer (OpenIDS), an accessible and scalable inkjet-based microarray synthesizer.
• To enable self-fabrication and customization of DNA synthesis equipment for academic laboratories.

Main Methods:

• Designed and constructed an open-source inkjet DNA synthesizer (OpenIDS) using 3D printing, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi.
• Integrated an industrial inkjet printhead for robust stability and high-density synthesis.
• Validated performance by synthesizing oligonucleotides on a 144-spot silicon wafer microarray.

Main Results:

• OpenIDS offers ease of construction, rapid deployment, and flexible scalability.
• The synthesizer maintains low production costs, making it suitable for academic labs.
• Demonstrated successful synthesis and analysis of oligonucleotides using urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Conclusions:

• OpenIDS provides a cost-effective and customizable solution for high-density oligonucleotide synthesis.
• The open-source nature allows non-experts to modify and adapt the synthesizer for various research needs.
• Facilitates broader access to essential DNA synthesis technology in biological research.