Cell culturing structure including growth medium and non-growth medium

A structure for monitoring cultured 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;
• 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;
• a first electrode at a first location on a surface of the structure;
• 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;
• and
• a detector configured to detect a lowering of electrical impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode when a conductive colony of cells provides the conductive path across the non-growth medium.