PCT No. PCT / US98 / 02634 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 9, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 9, 1999 PCT Filed Feb. 10, 1998 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 34633 PCT Pub. Date Aug. 13, 1998A
solid phase
peptide synthesis
reactor system and method of operating the reactor are provided. The
reactor system includes a basket rotatable about an axis within a housing and a
receiver which delivers fluid to, and collects fluid from, the housing. The basket has a perforate side wall against which a resin cake for the
peptide synthesis is formed. The reactor and
receiver form a loop or circuit through which solutions are circulated. The circulation of the solutions prevents the reactor from flooding so that the basket will not be submerged in solution and allows for the use of less liquid. Thus greater
amino acid concentrations may be used. The method includes forming a resin cake of uniform depth on the wall of the
spinning basket and spraying the solutions against the resin cake while
spinning the basket. The solutions will pass through the resin cake and drain to the
receiver to be circulated or recycled through the
system or discharged from the
system. Before a subsequent solution is introduced into the
reactor system, the prior solution is purged from the
system to help control
exposure time of the
peptide to the solutions.