An analysis device, comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate; a first thin film surmounting at least a portion of the first substrate, the second substrate, or both, wherein the first thin film gives rise to a reduced background signal of the device when the device is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of from about 300 nm to about 1000 nm, relative to an identical device without said first thin film, wherein at least one of the first substrate or second substrate permits at least partial passage of electromagnetic radiation characterized as having at least one wavelength in the range of from about 300 nm to about 1000 nm; a first inlet port extending through at least a portion of the first substrate, the second substrate, or both, so as to place a first interconnector channel in fluid communication with the environment exterior to the analysis device; and a first front-end branched channel region in direct fluid communication with the first interconnector channel, comprising at least a primary channel characterized as having a cross-sectional dimension of less than 10,000 nm and at least two secondary channels, placing the first interconnector channel into fluid communication with a nanochannel analysis region, wherein the total cross-sectional area of the at least two secondary channels is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of the primary channel, the nanochannel analysis region comprising at least one nanochannel characterized as having a cross-sectional dimension less than that of the primary channel, wherein the length of the at least one nanochannel is from 0.1 micron to 50 cm, and wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional dimensions of the primary channel to the at least one nanochannel is in the range of 100 to 10,000, wherein the nanochannel analysis region is configured for analysis of DNA therein, wherein the first thin film is configured to define the first front-end branched channel region and the nanochannel analysis region being disposed between the first and second substrates, the first thin film bonded to the first substrate, the second substrate or both. a first substrate; a second substrate; a first thin film surmounting at least a portion of the first substrate, the second substrate, or both, wherein the first thin film gives rise to a reduced background signal of the device when the device is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of from about 300 nm to about 1000 nm, relative to an identical device without said first thin film, wherein at least one of the first substrate or second substrate permits at least partial passage of electromagnetic radiation characterized as having at least one wavelength in the range of from about 300 nm to about 1000 nm; a first inlet port extending through at least a portion of the first substrate, the second substrate, or both, so as to place a first interconnector channel in fluid communication with the environment exterior to the analysis device; and a first front-end branched channel region in direct fluid communication with the first interconnector channel, comprising at least a primary channel characterized as having a cross-sectional dimension of less than 10,000 nm and at least two secondary channels, placing the first interconnector channel into fluid communication with a nanochannel analysis region, wherein the total cross-sectional area of the at least two secondary channels is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of the primary channel, the nanochannel analysis region comprising at least one nanochannel characterized as having a cross-sectional dimension less than that of the primary channel, wherein the length of the at least one nanochannel is from 0.1 micron to 50 cm, and wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional dimensions of the primary channel to the at least one nanochannel is in the range of 100 to 10,000, wherein the nanochannel analysis region is configured for analysis of DNA therein, wherein the first thin film is configured to define the first front-end branched channel region and the nanochannel analysis region being disposed between the first and second substrates, the first thin film bonded to the first substrate, the second substrate or both.