Cell culturing structure including growth medium and non-growth medium

A method for monitoring cultured cells, the method comprising:

• positioning growth medium regions in a plurality of pores on a surface of a 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;
• providing a non-growth medium comprising the plurality of pores, the non-growth medium further comprising an electrically insulating material, 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 electrode at a first location on a surface of the structure;
• positioning a second electrode at a second location on the surface of the structure, the second electrode positioned with respect to the non-growth medium such that a conductive path does not exist between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• providing a detector configured to detect electrical impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• inoculating the structure with a conductive colony;
• and
• measuring a lowering of electrical impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode as the conductive colony grows sufficiently to provide the conductive path across the non-growth medium.