l
3-mm hole punch.
l
Plastic tubing (3/16
00 inside diameter).
l
Hot glue gun.
l
1-ml syringes, Luer slip tip.
l
Food coloring.
l
Transfer pipettes with gradations (200–1000 μl range).
l
Water bath at 50–55
C (122–130
F).
5.5.2 Procedure
1. Assemble the microfluidic channels.
(a) Cut the channels from a double-sided adhesive, and cut
the top using a transparency sheet.
(b) Take out the paper back of the double-sided adhesive and
stick to the smaller transparency.
(c) Confirm that holes are carved out of the transparency
using craft cutter or manually using the 3-mm hole punch.
(d) Eliminate the paper backing from the other side of the
adhesive and attach to the bigger transparency. Gently
press on the layers together from one end to other end
to prevent folds.
2. Create the chemoeffector reservoir and syringe adapter.
(a) Cut two 0.5–0.75 cm parts of tubing.
(b) Paste one piece of tubing to one inlet using hot glue to
create a tank to grip the chemoeffector. Fasten the other
piece of tubing to the tip of the syringe to allow pulling
the solutions into the channel easier.
(c) Using hot glue requires attention to prevent burns.
Note: Avoid fastening the access holes to the microfluidic channel.
3. Prepare the chemoeffectors.
(a) Attractant: wax worm extract.
l
Grind five frozen wax worms (freeze wax worms while
they are fresh) in a mortar and pestle.
l
Submerge the wax worm mash in 3 ml of 70%
isopropanol.
l
Formulate a 20-fold dilution (e.g., 1 ml mash + 19 ml
water) from this solution using water.
l
Put in a small amount of food coloring for effective
visualization of the liquid.
(b) Repellant: acetic acid (vinegar).
l
Prepare a 5% acetic acid solution in water (or use white
vinegar, which is ~5% acetic acid in water).
44
Chemical Ecology
3-mm hole punch.
l
Plastic tubing (3/16
00 inside diameter).
l
Hot glue gun.
l
1-ml syringes, Luer slip tip.
l
Food coloring.
l
Transfer pipettes with gradations (200–1000 μl range).
l
Water bath at 50–55
C (122–130
F).
5.5.2 Procedure
1. Assemble the microfluidic channels.
(a) Cut the channels from a double-sided adhesive, and cut
the top using a transparency sheet.
(b) Take out the paper back of the double-sided adhesive and
stick to the smaller transparency.
(c) Confirm that holes are carved out of the transparency
using craft cutter or manually using the 3-mm hole punch.
(d) Eliminate the paper backing from the other side of the
adhesive and attach to the bigger transparency. Gently
press on the layers together from one end to other end
to prevent folds.
2. Create the chemoeffector reservoir and syringe adapter.
(a) Cut two 0.5–0.75 cm parts of tubing.
(b) Paste one piece of tubing to one inlet using hot glue to
create a tank to grip the chemoeffector. Fasten the other
piece of tubing to the tip of the syringe to allow pulling
the solutions into the channel easier.
(c) Using hot glue requires attention to prevent burns.
Note: Avoid fastening the access holes to the microfluidic channel.
3. Prepare the chemoeffectors.
(a) Attractant: wax worm extract.
l
Grind five frozen wax worms (freeze wax worms while
they are fresh) in a mortar and pestle.
l
Submerge the wax worm mash in 3 ml of 70%
isopropanol.
l
Formulate a 20-fold dilution (e.g., 1 ml mash + 19 ml
water) from this solution using water.
l
Put in a small amount of food coloring for effective
visualization of the liquid.
(b) Repellant: acetic acid (vinegar).
l
Prepare a 5% acetic acid solution in water (or use white
vinegar, which is ~5% acetic acid in water).
44
Chemical Ecology