Abstract: The invention relates to the use of polyphosphate containing species in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of nucleic acid synthesis, and to the use of kits comprising said polyphosphate containing species. The invention also relates to the use of polyphosphate containing species for the capping of 3?-terminal hydroxyl moieties using terminal transferases.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of synthesizing polymers, biopolymers, and nucleic acids, to immobilised dNTP/NTPs and kits comprising said immobilised dNTP/NTPs for use in said methods of nucleic acid synthesis.

Abstract: A digital microfluidic device, comprising a bottom plate and a top plate. The bottom plate comprises a bottom electrode array comprising a plurality of digital microfluidic propulsion electrodes. The top plate comprises a segmented top electrode array comprising a plurality of separately voltage addressable top electrode segments. Each top electrode segment and at least two of the propulsion electrodes of the bottom electrode array form a zone within the device. A controller is operatively coupled to the top electrode array and to the bottom electrode array and is configured to provide propulsion voltages between the top plate segment and the bottom plate propulsion electrodes of at least one of the zones. The top plate and the bottom plate are provided in a spaced relationship defining a microfluidic region therebetween.

Abstract: A digital microfluidic device including an active matrix of propulsion electrodes controlled by thin-film-transistors. The device includes at least two areas of different propulsion electrode densities. One area may be driven by directly-driving the propulsion electrodes from a power supply or function generator. In the first, higher density region; a first dielectric layer covers the propulsion electrodes. The first dielectric layer has a first dielectric constant and a first thickness. In the second, lower density region, a second dielectric layer has a second dielectric constant and a second thickness covering the propulsion electrodes.

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising: (a) a plate comprising a substrate, a plurality of electrodes, and a first layer of hydrophobic material applied over the plurality of electrodes; (b) a processing unit operably programmed to perform a method of pinning an aqueous droplet within the microfluidic device; and (c) a controller operably connected to a power source, the processing unit, and the plurality of electrodes. The method of pinning an aqueous droplet comprises: applying an electric field of a first polarity to an aqueous droplet located on the surface of the layer of hydrophobic material and having a first contact angle, to cause the droplet to maintain a second contact angle in the absence of the electric field, wherein the aqueous droplet contains a surfactant and the second contact angle is less than the first contact angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an amine masked moiety in a method of enzymatic nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to said amine masked moieties per se and a process for preparing nucleotide triphosphates comprising said amine masked moieties.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and kits for the synthesis and assembly of oligonucleotides into contiguous strands. The oligonucleotides can be synthesised and assembled in the same device, allowing production of strands longer than can be prepared using base by base synthesis alone.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of synthesizing polymers, biopolymers, and nucleic acids, to immobilised dNTP/NTPs and kits comprising said immobilised dNTP/NTPs for use in said methods of nucleic acid synthesis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for driving an active matrix electrowetting on dielectric device including thin-film-transistors to increase the switching frequency of the propulsion electrodes beyond what is typical for line-by-line active matrix driving. By using a latching circuit, it is possible to selectively switch specific propulsion (pixel) electrodes between an “on” and an “off” state, wherein a propulsion electrode in an “on” state can be driven by a time varying drive voltage on the top electrode that is a much higher frequency than is typically possible with amorphous silicon thin-film-transistor arrays. The faster drive frequency improves the performance of electrowetting devices, especially when used with aqueous droplets having a high ionic strength.

Abstract: A method of driving an active matrix electrowetting on dielectric device including thin-film-transistors to increase the switching frequency of the propulsion electrodes beyond what is typical for line-by-line active matrix driving. By grouping gate lines and simultaneously driving those gate lines as a gate block, a frame update can be completed much faster and, as a consequence, the overall drive frequency at the propulsion electrodes can be increased substantially. The faster drive frequency improves the performance of electrowetting devices, especially when used with aqueous droplets having a high ionic strength.

Abstract: Active matrix backplanes including an array of hexagonal electrodes or an array of triangular electrodes. Because the backplane designs route the gate lines along the periphery of the electrodes there is less cross talk with the surface of the electrode. The disclosed designs simplify construction and control of the electrodes and improve the regularity of the electric field above the electrode. Such backplane electrode designs may be particularly useful in electrowetting on dielectric (EWoD) devices and electrophoretic displays (EPD).

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of specific terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of synthesizing nucleic acids, and to the use of kits comprising said enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to the use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases and 3?-blocked nucleotide triphosphates in a method of template independent nucleic acid synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of specific terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of synthesizing nucleic acids, and to the use of kits comprising said enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to the use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases and 3?-blocked nucleotide triphosphates in a method of template independent nucleic acid synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of nucleic acid synthesis comprising the use of 3?-O-azidomethyl blocked nucleotide triphosphates which comprises the step of adding a capping group to any uncleaved 3?-O-azidomethyl groups and to the use of kits comprising said capping groups in a method of nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to capped nucleotide triphosphates and 3?-O-azidomethyl capping groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a modified terminal transferase enzyme in a method of adding one or more nucleotides to the 3? end of a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to methods of nucleic acid synthesis and sequencing comprising the use of said modified terminal transferase enzyme, to kits comprising said modified terminal transferase enzyme and to the use of said kits in methods of nucleic acid synthesis and sequencing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of specific terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of synthesizing nucleic acids, and to the use of kits comprising said enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to the use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases and 3?-blocked nucleotide triphosphates in a method of template independent nucleic acid synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of polyphosphate containing species in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of nucleic acid synthesis, and to the use of kits comprising said polyphosphate containing species. The invention also relates to the use of polyphosphate containing species for the capping of 3?-terminal hydroxyl moieties using terminal transferases.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of specific terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of synthesizing nucleic acids, and to the use of kits comprising said enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to the use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases and 3?-blocked nucleotide triphosphates in a method of template independent nucleic acid synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of synthesizing polymers, biopolymers, and nucleic acids, to immobilised dNTP/NTPs and kits comprising said immobilised dNTP/NTPs for use in said methods of nucleic acid synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an amine masked moiety in a method of enzymatic nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to said amine masked moieties per se and a process for preparing nucleotide triphosphates comprising said amine masked moieties.