Amplification of Signals Generated by a Programmable Function Generator

Exposure of a biological cell to an electric field can produce a variety of responses [1]-[6]. If the field strength exceeds a certain threshold value, this leads to a large transient increase in membrane conductivity and permeability for ions and molecules (electropermeabilization, often also named electroporation) or to fusion of adjacent cells (electrofusion) [5], [6]. Nowadays, these phenomena are widely used in applications such as gene transfection [7]-[8], preparation of monoclonal antibodies [9], and drug delivery, especially in electrochemotherapy of tumors [10]-[12]. For optimal effectiveness of these applications, one must choose the most appropriate amplitude, duration, and waveform of the applied electric pulses. With 2 mm distance between plate electrodes, which is an established setup for electropermeabilization in vitro, the threshold voltages typically range from 120 to 300 V [13], with pulse durations from several microseconds to several milliseconds [5]. Due to these demands, electropermeabilization is performed using specialized devices, often referred to as electroporators or electropulsators. Today