Patent ID: 8455228

Claim:
A non-contact, charge-based method of facilitating the movement of a molecule relative a biological structure, comprising: positioning the molecule adjacent the biological structure; providing an electric field generating device having at least one electrode; providing an ion source in fluid communication with the electrode wherein the ion source is a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, helium, atmospheric gases and combinations thereof; positioning the electric field generating device proximate to the biological structure; applying a first potential to the electrode wherein the first potential is established using direct current (DC) wherein the first potential is between about +8 kV and about −8 kV; establishing a substantially continuous, low-level electric field by flowing the ion source past the electrode to generate a plasma; and establishing a second potential by depositing plasma ions on the biological structure whereby the establishment of the second potential on the biological structure is capable of moving the molecule relative to the biological structure; wherein the plasma is applied to the biological structure for at least 2 minutes.