TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an endotoxin detection device and an endotoxin detection method.

BACKGROUND

Examples of conventionally known methods for detecting endotoxin include a detection method (LAL method) that uses a reagent produced from a blood cell extract derived from horseshoe crabs and that is based on the gel forming ability of this reagent with endotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria being dependent on the endotoxin concentration (refer to Patent Literature (PTL) 1) and a method of electrochemically detecting endotoxin that takes the LAL method as a base (refer to PTL 2 and 3).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PTL 1: JP-559-42451A

PTL 2: JP2018-072331A

PTL 3: JP2017-037043A

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

However, although methods using LAL reagent have high sensitivity, they suffer from problems that LAL reagent is expensive, and that the reaction of LAL required for detection of endotoxin is time consuming. Specifically, the method described in PTL 1 takes roughly 1 hour, whereas the methods described in PTL 2 and 3 require 30 minutes to 1 hour. Therefore, there is demand for a method of rapidly detecting endotoxin without using an expensive reagent.

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and method for rapidly and simply detecting endotoxin without using an expensive reagent.

Solution to Problem

The problem described above is solved by a device according to the present disclosure that is set forth below.

An endotoxin detection device comprising:

a region containing an electrolyte solution;

a partitioning member that partitions the region into two compartments such that the two compartments are in communication via a nanopore;

a first electrode that is disposed in a first compartment;

a second electrode that is disposed in a second compartment and is electrically connected to the first electrode;

an electrolyte solution flow generating means that causes electrolyte solution in the first compartment to move to the second compartment via the nanopore;

an application means that applies voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

a monitoring means that monitors current.

Advantageous Effect

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a device and method for rapidly and simply detecting endotoxin without using an expensive reagent as a result of including the configuration set forth above.

