Cell culturing structure including growth medium and non-growth medium

A method for monitoring cultured cells, the method comprising:

• forming a structure for culturing cells, the structure including:
• 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;
• positioning a first optical waveguide at a first location on a surface of the structure;
• positioning a second optical waveguide at a second location on a surface of the structure, the second optical waveguide not being directly connected to the first optical waveguide;
• inoculating the structure with a sample to be monitored;
• injecting light into the second optical waveguide;
• passing the light from the second optical waveguide through cells of the sample to the first optical waveguide;
• and
• measuring an amount of light emitted from the first optical waveguide.