Method and apparatus for sustaining viability of biological cells on a substrate

An apparatus for transient biological transformation of a cell, the apparatus comprising:

• a substrate;
• an array of elongated cell penetrant structures disposed on the substrate in a substantially orthogonal orientation to the substrate, wherein each cell penetrant structure has a penetrating tip and an opening thereon leading to a compartment within the cell penetrant structure, wherein the cell penetrant structure comprises a carbon nano-fiber core and a sheath present on sidewall surfaces of the carbon nano-fiber core, in which a base of the compartment is provided by a recessed surface of the carbon nano-fiber core and the sidewalls of the compartment are provided by a portion of the sheath that extends beyond the recessed surface of the carbon nano-fiber core to provide the opening of the cell penetrant structure, wherein the sheath that is present around the sidewall surfaces of the carbon nano-fiber core is a coating selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag, Ni, Pt, silica, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide and polypyrrole.

An apparatus for transient biological transformation of a cell comprising:

• an elongated cell penetrant structure comprising carbon and having a penetrating tip and an opening thereon leading to a compartment within the cell penetrant structure, the compartment containing a biologically active component that is precluded from escaping from the compartment when said compartment is inside said cell, wherein the elongated cell penetrant structure and penetrating tip are of such dimensions that said cell can be impaled therewith without being killed;
• and
• a substrate connected to a portion of the elongated cell penetrant structure opposite from the penetrating tip.