Patent ID: 7381471

Claim:
A method of preparing a microfluidic device said method comprising the steps of providing a silica based coverplate, wherein said coverplate comprises a first and second port, and a base, wherein said base comprises a microchannel; coating a surface of the silica based coverplate or the microchannel bearing surface of the base with a first composition comprising a polymer produced by polymerizing a mixture comprising methylmethacrylate, and a compound of the general structure: wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7 are independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 alkynyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, and C 5 -C 6 aryl; contacting the silica based coverplate with the microchannel bearing surface of the base, for a predetermined length of time, in an orientation that places the first and second ports of the coverplate in fluid communication with the microchannel and places the coated surface between the coverplate and the base; heating the contacted surfaces to a temperature ranging from about 100° C. to about 200° C.; and contacting the inner surface of the microchannel with a second composition comprising a polymer produced by polymerizing a mixture comprising methylmethacrylate, and a compound of the general structure: wherein R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , and R 17 are independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 2 -C 18 alkenyl, C 2 -C 18 alkynyl, C 1 -C 8 alkylcarboxyl, C 1 -C 8 alkyl(NR 20 R 21 R 22 ) + , C 1 -C 8 alkyl(NR 21 R 22 ), C 1 -C 8 alkyl(NHR 22 ), C 1 -C 8 alkylsulfate, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, and C 5 -C 6 aryl, wherein R 20 , R 21 and R 22 are independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 4 alkyl.