Patterning cultured cells by visible light illumination with photosensitizers

We showed that PC12 cells and 3T3 cells cultured in dishes were killed by illumination with visible white light from a halogen lamp at 7×104 lx for 5 min in the presence of either 10 μM hematoporphyrin or 2 μM methylene blue as a photosensitizer. This simple technique, based on the photodynamic reaction via generation of reactive oxygen species can be applicable for patterning cultured cells.