Method for measuring membrane potential/membrane current of cell

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for accurately measuring and controlling intracellular potential by a simple method that is less invasive to the cell and does not require a skilled technique. The present invention makes it possible to provide an intracellular recording electrode inside the cytoplasm by introducing conductive nanoparticles into a cell cultured on a conductive plate electrode, attracting the conductive nanoparticles inside the cell to the side of the cell adhered to the conductive plate electrode, and causing the conductive nanoparticles to pass through the cell membrane. Measuring the current or voltage between the intracellular recording electrode and an extracellular electrode in extracellular solution makes it possible to measure the intracellular potential. In addition, applying a current from one of the electrodes or applying a voltage makes it possible to control the intracellular potential and to measure the activity of the ion channels using a membrane potential fixation method. Similarly, using a magnetic electrode adhered to the cell surface of a target cell into which conductive nanoparticles have been introduced beforehand to attract the conductive nanoparticles in the cell to the side of the cell adhered to the electrode and cause the conductive nanoparticles to pass through the cell membrane to make contact with the magnetic electrode, makes it possible to provide an intracellular recording electrode inside the cytoplasm. Alternatively, adhering conductive nanoparticles adsorbed to the surface of a magnetic electrode to the upper side of the target cell and causing the conductive nanoparticles to pass through the cell membrane by attracting the conductive particles to an iron plate provided on the lower side of the cell thereby forms an intracellular recording electrode.