METHOD FOR MEASURING INTRACELLULAR POTENTIAL BY CAPACITANCE TYPE POTENTIAL MEASUREMENT DEVICE

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 method according to the present invention comprises: by using magnetic force from a magnetic electrode adhered to the surface of a target cell, into which conductive nanoparticles have been preliminarily introduced, or a magnet being in contact with a conductive plate electrode, attracting the conductive nanoparticles inside the cell to the side of the cell surface adhering to the electrode, and then allowing the conductive nanoparticles to pass through the cell membrane to thereby bring the end outside the cell into contact with the magnetic electrode or the conductive plate electrode; or alternatively, adhering the conductive nanoparticles adsorbed on the magnetic electrode surface to the upper side of the target cell, and allowing the conductive nanoparticles to pass through the cell membrane by attracting the conductive nanoparticles to an iron plate disposed on the lower side of the cell to thereby leave the end outside the cell being in contact with the magnetic electrode. A capacitor is fabricated by using the conductive plate in contact with the conductive nanoparticles together with a conductive plate (an aluminum foil). Alternatively, a capacitor is fabricated by disposing a magnetic body via an insulating body on the upper side of the magnetic electrode. This capacitor detects, as a sensor, a change in charge inside the target cell and converts the same into a voltage change to thereby enable the measurement of the intracellular potential. The present invention also makes it possible to monitor the effect of a test reagent, said test reagent being administered to an extracellular solution, on a cell.