A method of delivering exogenous molecules, comprising: providing a plurality of cells having a cell membrane adding a plurality of exogenous molecules to the cells exposing the cells to a defocused infrared (IR) light to permeabilize the cell membrane of the cells and delivering the exogenous molecules to the cells through the permeablized cell membrane, wherein an intensity of the IR light at the optical focus is at least greater than or equal to an order of 104 W/cm2.
