Optical-fiber bundles.

Optical-fiber bundles have been employed as a versatile substrate for the fabrication of high-density microwell arrays. In this minireview, we discuss the application of optical-fiber-bundle arrays for a variety of biological problems. For genomics studies and microbial pathogen detection, individual beads have been functionalized with DNA probes and then loaded into the microwells. In addition, beads differentially responsive to vapors have been employed in an artificial olfaction system. Microwell arrays have also been loaded with living cells to monitor their individual response to biologically active compounds over long periods. Finally, the microwells have been sealed to enclose single enzyme molecules that can be used to measure individual molecule catalytic activity.