Rapid thermal cycle processing methods and apparatus

The present invention relates to the field of thermal processing of biological matter to alter or kill the cells. More particularly, a rapid rise in temperature is employed in a manner which avoids denaturation of proteins while altering membrane properties. A system and method for processing a cells, the method comprising the steps of providing the cells to be processed in a liquid medium; and heating the liquid medium containing the cells at a rate and through a range sufficient to cause an instability in at least one of the cellular membranes. The method may be used to fuse the structure with another membranes, or to reduce the integrity of the membranes. The system atomizes a medium containing the cells into small droplets and subjects them to an environment containing steam vapor while moving at high velocity, to rapidly increase the droplet temperature to the steam temperature by release of the latent heat of vaporization.