11. Finish the experiment after 10 h. (Total experiment time is

16 h for yeast cells. For other cell types the duration of experi-

ment is longer than 24 h depending on the doubling time.)

12. Take cell images within the chambers with a determined time

interval during the experiment (see Note 12).

3.6.2

Microfluidic Device

with Electrodes

1. Repeat the first five steps mentioned in Subheading 3.6.1.

2. Connect function generator (Agilent 33220A) to the micro-

fluidic device and turn its power on.

3. Connect a digital multimeter (Keysight U1252B) for instanta-

neous measurement of the current within the microfluidic

device.

4. Prime the microfluidic device with the relevant medium.

5. Start cell feeding through the middle inlet and trap them in the

c-shaped region.

6. Once cells are trapped, stop the cell feeding and start to send

fresh medium through the side inlets.

7. Apply electric field with predetermined parameters for 6 h and

finish the experiment.

8. Take images of the cells within the chambers of the microfluidic

device, placed on the stage of the inverted fluorescence micro-

scope, at preset time intervals throughout the experiment.

4

Notes

1. At this pressure value, water vapors, that might be on the walls

of the vacuum chamber or COP sample within the device, were

removed.

2. Cooling water was used to prevent damage to the vacuum feed-

throughs used to make electrical contact to heating coils.

3. The reason of chromium deposition was to establish adhesion

of gold film to the COP substrate.

4. The reason for using aluminum foils was to prevent any molten

material from sticking to the plates, which may occur between

the hot plates.

5. During processing like hot embossing and bonding, COP

substrates are put in between glasses that are used to provide

smooth surfaces for pressing.

6. The aim of this step was to warm up the pieces placed in the

hydraulic press machine and it takes 10 min.

7. Glass transition temperature of the polymer COP is 136
C.

While hot embossing was selected close to the glass transition

36

Elif Gencturk et al.