The Design of a Continuous Flow Combinatorial Screening Micro Reactor System with On-Chip Detection

Abstract

A micro reactor device has been developed which enables the synthesis of a number of nitro stilbene esters to be carried out using electroosmotic flow (EOF) as the mobilisation mechanism. The micro reactor was fabricated from borosilicate glass using photolithography and wet etching techniques generating an array of interconnecting channels. The micro reactor device was optimised using Wittig chemistry that allowed analogue synthesis of a number of aldehydes generating a generic methodology. Currently, work is continuing to automate and develop the micro reactor allowing in-situ detection to be coupled to the system, thus increasing the drug development and screening flexibility.