1. A method of directly transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: a) providing an agent outside a cell; and b) generating an electric field and a mechanical stress wave by applying a voltage to an electrode to form a plasma discharge, the electrode providing both the electric field and the mechanical stress wave to the cell, thereby directly transferring the agent into the cell.
2. A method of directly transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: (a) providing an agent outside a cell; and (b) generating an electric field and a mechanical stress wave by applying voltage pulses to an electrode at a frequency of between about 0.1 Hz and about 1 kHz, the electrode providing both the electric field and the mechanical stress wave to the cell, thereby directly transferring the agent into the cell.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein generating the electric field and the mechanical stress wave comprises generating a non-uniform electric field between the electrode and a return electrode, wherein the electric field around the electrode is sufficient for generating a plasma discharge.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the cell is a eukaryotic cell, a prokaryotic cell, a primary cell, a cell line, or is part of a tissue.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the agent is a plasmid DNA molecule.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein generating the electric field and the mechanical stress wave permeabilizes the cell.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein generating the electric field and the mechanical stress wave comprises generating the electric field and the mechanical stress wave substantially concurrently.
8. A method of directly transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: (a) providing the agent outside of the cell; and (b) directly transferring the agent into the cell by applying voltage to an electrode to form a transient plasma discharge near the cell, the electrode providing both an electric field and a mechanical stress wave to the cell.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cell is a eukaryotic cell, a prokaryotic cell, a primary cell, a cell line, or is part of a tissue.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the agent is plasmid DNA.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the electric field and the mechanical stress wave permeabilizes the cell.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cell is a eukaryotic cell, a prokaryotic cell, a primary cell, a cell line, or is part of a tissue.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the agent is plasmid DNA.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein forming the transient plasma discharge permeabilizes the cell.
15. A method of transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: a) providing an agent outside a cell; and generating an electric field and a mechanical stress wave by applying a voltage in a range of about 100 V to about 10 kV to an electrode to form a plasma discharge, the electrode providing both the electric field and the mechanical stress wave to the cell, thereby transferring the agent into the cell.
16. A method of transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: a) providing an agent outside a cell; and generating an electric field and a mechanical stress wave by applying a voltage to an electrode to form a plasma discharge, wherein the electrode is positioned at a distance of about 0.01 mm to about 1 cm from the cell, the electrode providing both the electric field and the mechanical stress wave to the cell, thereby transferring the agent into the cell.
17. A method of transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: (a) providing an agent outside a cell; and (b) generating an electric field and a mechanical stress wave by applying voltage pulses to an electrode at a frequency of between about 0.1 Hz and about 1 kHz, wherein the voltage is applied in a range of about 100 V to about 10 kV, the electrode providing both the electric field and the mechanical stress wave to the cell, thereby transferring the agent into the cell.
18. A method of transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: (a) providing an agent outside a cell; and (b) generating an electric field and a mechanical stress wave by applying voltage pulses to an electrode at a frequency of between about 0.1 Hz and about 1 kHz, wherein the electrode is positioned at a distance of about 0.01 mm to about 1 cm from the cell, the electrode providing both the electric field and the mechanical stress wave to the cell, thereby transferring the agent into the cell.
19. A method of transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: (a) providing the agent outside of the cell; and (b) transferring the agent into the cell by applying voltage in a range of about 100 V to about 10 kV to an electrode to form a transient plasma discharge near the cell, the electrode providing both an electric field and a mechanical stress wave to the cell.
20. A method of transferring an agent into a cell, comprising: (a) providing the agent outside of the cell; and (b) transferring the agent into the cell by applying voltage to an electrode to form a transient plasma discharge near the cell, wherein the electrode is positioned at a distance of about 0.01 mm to about 1 cm from the cell, the electrode providing both an electric field and a mechanical stress wave to the cell.
