Synthesis of Oligomers in Arrays

1 . A device comprising:

an array portion comprising a plurality of porous islands and a spacer separating said islands, said plurality of porous islands being more hydrophilic than said spacer, each island defining at least one pore configured to permit fluid communication between opposing surfaces of said array portion.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a reaction surface.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein said reaction surface is integral to at least one porous island.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein said reaction surface is integral to at least one pore.

5 . The device of claim 2 , wherein said reaction surface is contained within or attached to said porous island.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one island comprises a plurality of pores.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each island comprises a plurality of pores.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of porous islands defines an array.

9 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a least one channel comprising a first and a second end, wherein said first end of said channel is in fluid communication with at least one porous island and wherein said channel is configured to permit fluid flowthrough.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein said channel is configured to receive reagents at said first end of said channel and is configured to release at least a portion of said reagents at said second end of said channel.

11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein said at least one of said channels further comprises a reaction surface.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein said reaction surface is integral to said channel.

13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein said reaction surface is a structure contained within or attached to said channel.

14 . A method of placing reagents in reaction compartments of an array comprising:

dispensing a first reagent to one or more porous islands in an array of porous islands, wherein each porous island comprises at least one reaction compartment and wherein each porous island is configured to restrict said first reagent from flowing laterally beyond each of said one or more porous islands;

dispensing a second reagent to said one or more porous islands; and

removing said first and second reagents from said reaction compartment.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

removing said first reagent from said reaction compartment before dispensing said second reagent.

16 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

dispensing said second reagent to said one or more porous islands before removing said first reagent from said reaction compartment.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said second reagent is dispensed to contact concurrently a plurality of said porous islands.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each porous island is surrounded by a spacer,

wherein said each porous island and its surrounding spacer have different surface energies, and

whereby said first reagent in a given porous island is restricted from flowing laterally over said surrounding spacer by said difference in surface energy.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said first reagent is received in said each porous island,

whereby said first reagent in a given porous island is restricted from flowing laterally between adjacent porous islands by capillary action between said first reagent and said porous island.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said removing step is achieved by exerting a positive pressure to said reaction compartment to push fluid through said reaction compartment, thereby removing said first and second reagents from said reaction compartment.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said removing step is achieved by exerting a negative pressure to said reaction compartment to pull fluid from said reaction compartment, thereby removing said first and second reagents from said reaction compartment.