Patent ID: 8268555

Claim:
A method for sequential delivery of two or more agents to a surface of a cell structure and into the cytoplasm of the cell structure, comprising: (a) providing at least one electrolyte solution-filled tube together with a ground or counter electrode, (b) connecting the at least one electrolyte solution-filled tube to a voltage or current generator, (c) introducing at least two agents into the electrolyte solution contained in the at least one electrolyte solution-filled tube, the agents being arranged in at least two discrete zones or bands each comprising at least one agent, (d) placing the at least one electrolyte solution-filled tube at close distance to the surface of the cell structure, (e) transporting a band containing an agent through the at least one electrolyte solution-filled tube to the surface of the cell structure, (f) focusing an electric field of a strength sufficient to obtain electroporation of the surface of the cell structure on the cell structure, resulting in formation of a pore in the membrane surface of the cell structure, and (g) transporting the agent through the pore formed in step (f) and into the cytoplasm of the cell structure, wherein steps (a-g) are performed in consecutive order, with the exception that the order of steps (b), (c) and (d) may be altered, and that the order of steps (e) and (f) may be altered, and wherein steps (e)-(g) are repeated for each band containing an agent until the desired number of agents have been delivered into the cytoplasm of the cell structure.