Evonetix partners with imec on MEMS-based DNA synthesis platform
The novel silicon chip is a key component of Evonetix’s DNA platform which, once fully developed, will facilitate and enable the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology.
Evonetix’s technology utilises a silicon chip, made by MEMS processing, that controls the synthesis of DNA at many thousands of independently controlled reaction sites or ‘pixels’ on the chip surface in a highly parallel fashion. Following synthesis, strands are assembled on-chip into double-stranded DNA in a process that identifies and removes rrors, enabling accuracy, scale and speed said to be several orders of magnitude better than conventional approaches. Under the terms of the
collaboration, imec will work with Evonetix to scale up manufacturing of the MEMS technology on 8-inch silicon wafers, enabling Evonetix to supply customers in volume.
Imec is able to leverage its experience in manufacturing silicon for life sciences applications to transfer the novel Evonetix process to their foundries and to manage further expansion in volume.
“With the support of imec, a world-renowned leader in microchip technology, we will be able to optimise our highly parallel desktop platform for commercial supply”, commented Dr Matthew Hayes, Chief Technology Officer at Evonetix.
“We have extensive practical knowledge of chip design and technology, which we use to help develop innovative tools for the life sciences and pharma R&D. Evonetix has developed an innovative approach that integrates physics and biology to enable the production of high-fidelity long DNA in a highly parallel fashion. We are eager to contribute to their success using our nanotechnology capabilities”, added Peter Peumans, Senior vice president life science technologies at imec.
Evonetix – www.evonetix.com
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