Hydrogel membrane and methods for selective retrieval of microbial targets

A method of selective retrieval of microbial targets from cell culture, comprising:

• providing a sealed cell culture device, said device comprising:
• a substrate having a top surface and a plurality of microwells formed therein, wherein each microwell is defined by a respective opening in the top surface, a bottom surface spaced from the top surface, and an interior sidewall extending between the opening and bottom surface, wherein one or more of said microwells comprises one or more microbes distributed therein;
• and
• a crosslinked hydrogel membrane adjacent said top surface, wherein said membrane seals the respective opening of one or more of said microwells such that said microbes are confined to their respective microwells;
• exposing said crosslinked hydrogel membrane to a pattern of light to yield exposed and unexposed areas of said crosslinked hydrogel membrane, wherein said exposed areas are degraded over one or more microwells of interest such that the seal over said one or more microwells of interest is broken to yield unsealed microwells, wherein said unexposed areas over one or more adjacent microwells remain sealed;
• and
• selectively retrieving microbial targets only from said one or more unsealed microwells.