The development of programmable parallel microscale feedback control
systems requires a system capable of monitoring and actuating numerous microscopic reaction sites in parallel, while maintaining steady flows of resources. These are also the requirements for the Omega Machine in the PACE project.
The overall experimental set-up (left scheme) involves a fluorescence monitoring system based on a parallel confocal wide-field microscope (Olympus BX51) and an actuation system based on our digital biochip environment - the Chemical microprocessor (ChµP). A schematic is shown adjacently. The parallel feedback setup involves also high performance pumps controlled via serial-interfaces, an EMCCD-camera for image acquisition (Andor), motorized stepper xy- and z-stages (Prior, PI), various solid state laser sources (Coherent DPSS 488 nm, 200 mW and Lasos 639 nm, 25 mW) as well as a microlens spinning disk confocal unit (Yokogawa CSU10). All components are managed by a custom designed and built controller board Bio@Fox and a Linux host-computer.
Picture of the completed experimental working bench platform with integrated automated probe sampling mounted of an vibration damped table for PACE experiments and protocell application.