SYNTHESIS OF OLIGOMERS IN ARRAYS

1 . A device for parallel synthesis of oligomers, comprising:

a porous member including an array of islands and a spacer joined to the array of islands and separating the islands, the array of islands being more hydrophilic than the spacer, each island defining a plurality of pores permitting reagents to pass through such island;

a channel structure disposed adjacent the porous member and including a plurality of reaction compartments disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the array of islands; and

a set of particles disposed in each reaction compartment and retained therein by the channel structure, the set of particles being configured to support synthesis of at least one oligomer using the reagents that pass through the corresponding island of the array.

2 . A device for directing fluids, comprising:

a porous member including an array of islands and a spacer joined to the array of islands and separating the islands, the islands and the spacer having different surface energies, the porous member including opposing surfaces, each island defining a network of pores and being configured to receive reagents and to permit passage of the reagents between the opposing surfaces.