Multi-Analyte Sensing: From Site-Selective Deposition to Randomly-Ordered Addressable Optical Fiber Sensors

In this report we review the progress in the development of imaging fiber chemical sensors. Emphasis is placed on the chemical sensor component and the fabrication of architectures appropriate for multi-analyte sensing, such as optical fiber sensors. Two main approaches in the fabrication of such sensors will be highlighted: first, sensors made with spatially-resolved sensing sites by site-selective polymerization, second, sensors prepared by random distribution of microsphere sensors on an optical imaging fiber containing thousands of μm-scale wells. Examples of each are given.