Cell culturing structure including growth medium and non-growth medium

A system for culturing cells, the system comprising:

• a structure for culturing cells, the structure comprising:
• growth medium regions formed in a plurality of pores on a surface of the structure, wherein each of the growth medium regions includes a growth medium surface configured to receive and promote growth in a cell that is being cultured;
• and
• a non-growth medium comprising the plurality of pores, wherein sidewalls of the pores are coated with a hydrophilic coating, and wherein a topmost surface of the non-growth medium is coated with a hydrophobic coating;
• and
• a device configured for measuring a parameter on the structure after inoculating the structure with a sample, the device comprising:
• a first optical waveguide at the first location on a surface of the structure;
• a second optical waveguide at a second location on a surface of the structure, the second optical waveguide substantially parallel to the first optical waveguide such that the second optical waveguide is not optically connected to an end of the first optical waveguide;
• an emitter configured to inject light into the second optical waveguide;
• and
• a processor configured to detect light emitted from the first optical waveguide, the light passing from the second optical waveguide through cells of the sample to the first optical waveguide.