Helix: An Electrochemical CMOS DNA Synthesizer

Abstract

This work describes the highest feature density CMOS-based DNA synthesizer, where individually addressable sub-μm pixels generate acid in situ for deprotection. A new redox chemistry enables this at low voltages. Implemented in 65nm CMOS, electrodes as small as 0.6μm2 were implemented, and oligos up to 100 nucleotides (nt) were synthesized.