Using a functional polymer containing nitrospirobenzopyran residues and poly(ethylene glycol), we developed a photoresponsive cell culture surface (PRCS), at which the cell adhesion can be enhanced locally by UV light irradiation (350-400 nm, 35 mW/cm(2), 5 min) even on the region where living cells exist. Cell adhesion was evaluated by observing BALB/3T3 fibroblasts, which had been seeded on PRCS and then irradiated with UV light regionally, after 12 h incubation and subsequent washing to remove scarcely adhering cells. As a result, it was confirmed that the number of remaining cells in irradiated region was at most 2.5 times greater than that in nonirradiated regions, suggesting the implementation of a novel scheme to manipulate living cells individually by light irradiation in a parallel and simultaneous manner. Influence of the composition of the polymer material consisting the substrate surface was also investigated systematically. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.