| abstract |
An improved electrode for use in generating an electrical field in a saline solution is provided. In particular, a continuous crystalline metal nitride coated electrode is provided for use in a variety of saline solution applications, such as in an electrophoresis device for separating proteins or nucleic acids or an electroporation apparatus for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in various cell populations. A method and apparatus are provided for the encapsulation of biologically-active substances in red blood cells, characterized by an optionally automated, continuous-flow, self-contained electroporation system (10) which allows withdrawal of blood from a patient (11), separation of red blood cells (44), encapsulation of a biologically-active substances in the cells (72), and optional recombination of blood plasma and the modified red blood cells thereby producing blood with modified biological characteristics. |