Cross-reactive optical sensing arrays

Vertebrate olfaction and gustation, noted for their sensitivity and selectivity, provide intriguing models for creating cross-reactive sensor arrays. To mimic these sensing systems, a sensor array was developed comprising thousands of bead sensors, randomly dispersed across an etched optical fiber array. These bead sensors are impregnated with solvatochromic dyes, which alter their fluorescence emission spectra in response to microenvironmental changes due to the analyte's polarity. Each sensor type is cross-reactive and has unique fluorescence response patterns to different analytes. Such a sensor array can quickly accommodate new bead types and is an improvement over other sensors in terms of size, response and recovery times, ease of preparation, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Possible applications range from pollution monitoring, medical diagnosis, food quality n control, and land-mine detection.