Quantitative Droplets for DNA Sequence Printing with a Low-voltage Logic Circuit, High-power Driver, and Micro-electromechanical Technology

In this study, inkjet printing was used to produce quantitative droplets of a DNA sequence using a novel, high-density, high-resolution nano-ink inkjet chip. It contains thousands of tiny orifices like very tiny volcano-shaped nozzles. This technology was used to design high-speed, high-voltage drive circuit systems. This chip integrates digital circuits, an optoelectronic thin-film process, and micro-electromechanical process technology on a single monolithic chip. The entire chip is a very large digital circuit that controls more than 1000 nano-ink nozzles. The circuit design simulates and uses a 0.18 µm line width high-voltage process to drive an array of micro-electromechanical elements. It can drive 432 nozzles very quickly within 85 µs. According to this specification, the high-precision nano-inkjet print head was extended to drive 1296 nozzles in a sequential manner. It can complete dynamic tracking measurements and analyze a low trajectory of inkjet liquid. In research and development in the field of DNA detection and medical electronics, the developed DNA spray array can be quantitatively distributed on a glass slide. This technology can be extended to high-speed, high-density nozzles and micro-liquid spray applications.