Flow-through electroporation system for ex vivo gene therapy

An ex vivo method for introducing pre-selected molecules into cells of a host, comprising:

• contacting ex vivo the cells with the pre-selected molecules to form a cell-molecule mixture;
• placing the cell-molecule mixture in a chamber selected from the group consisting of a continuous flow chamber and a batch flow chamber, wherein the chamber has an inner surface that contacts the cell-molecule mixture and on which are disposed at least four electrodes positioned in spaced apart relation to one another, wherein the electrodes form at least two opposed pairs of electrodes such that the electrodes of a given pair are disposed opposite one another on the inner surface of the chamber;
• and
• pulsing the cell-molecule mixture with at least one electric impulse between at least one of the opposed pairs to apply at least one electric field orientation to the cell-molecule mixture, thereby causing at least a portion of the pre-selected molecules to be introduced into at least a portion of the cells.