disclosed are an apparatus and a method for the poration and fusion of cells using radiofrequency electrical pulses . the electrodes of the apparatus can be hand held or part of integrated equipment with special containers for cells . the electrodes , which are positioned equal distance from each other , are attached to a power function generator . the power function generator can apply a continuous ac electrical field and / or a pulsed radiofrequency electrical field across the electrodes . the alternating electrical field induces cell dielectrophoresis . the pulsed radiofrequency electrical field porates or fuses the cells . the method can be used to fuse or porate a variety of cells including erythrocyte ghosts , liposomes , vesicles , isolated cells and cultured cells . during the poration or fusions a variety of chemical agents including antibodies , proteins , drugs , molecular probes , hormones , growth factors , dna , rna , enzymes , organic chemicals and inorganic chemicals can be introduced into these cells . the method can also be used to produce new species and to make hybridoma cells which produce monoclonal antibodies .