A method, apparatus and system that employs particles, e.g., nanoparticles, and an electric or electro-magnetic field, to cause electroporation in target cells at reduced fields. Electroporation may be irreversible, leading to targeted cell death, or reversible, allowing species to be introduced into the target cell. The method introduces a particle to a position adjacent to the cell membrane of a target cell and exposes the target cell to a transient electromagnetic field for a time interval to cause targeted electroporation. A smaller electric field is applied, thereby surmounting similar methods. The particle enhances the effect of the electric field in its immediate vicinity, so reducing the field strength needed to achieve electroporation and thereby reducing the risk of damage to cells through high field exposure. Electroporation can be targeted to a subset of target cells by targeting the particles to surface markers on the target cell membrane.
