Integration of large-area polymer nanopillar arrays into microfluidic devices using in situ polymerization cast molding

Abstract

Presented here is a simple and robust approach for the integration of mixed-scale (nm-cm) structures into fluidic devices. We report on devices composed of large-area polymer nanopillar arrays of high aspect ratio (33-667) integrated into microfluidic channels fabricated by cast-molding polymerization of methyl methacrylate with mechanically/lithographically patterned, nanoporous aluminium oxide (AAO) templates. The microchannels containing the nanopillar arrays can be chemically functionalized and used for a variety of applications, such as separation beds or solid-phase reactors/extractors.