Methods of Fabricating Polymeric Structures Incorporating Microscale Fluidic Elements

Abstract

The present invention generally provides improved methods of fabricating polymeric microfluidic devices that incorporate microscale fluidic structures, whereby the fabrication process does not substantially distort or deform such structures. The methods of the invention generally provide enhanced bonding processes for mating and bonding substrate layers to define the microscale channel networks therebetween.

1 . A method of fabricating a microfluidic device, comprising:
 providing a first substrate having at least a first surface and a second substrate having at least a first surface, wherein at least one of the first surface of the first substrate or the first surface of the second substrate comprises a textured surface; and   mating and bonding the first surface of the first substrate to the first surface of the second substrate.