Fiber optic biosensor for selectively detecting oligonucleotide species in a mixed fluid sample

The present application is concerned generally with apparatus and methods for the analysis of genes and gene expression; and is particularly directed to the construction and use of a fiber optic biosensor able to detect selectively one or multiple DNA, RNA, or PNA oligonucleotide fragments concurrently. The present invention provides biosensors, apparatus and methods for selectively detecting at least one complementary oligonucleotide target specie in a fluid sample containing a mixture of different oligonucleotide fragments. One preferred embodiment of the biosensor is as a unitary fiber optic array having an in-situ hybridization zone comprising not less than one specie of single stranded oligonucleotide disposed as individual deposits in aligned organization upon multiple strand end faces at differing spatial positions on the distal array end surface. In this manner, a collective of deployed, single specie, multiple fixed probes are presented for selective in-situ hybridization on-demand with at least one mobile complementary target specie ultimately bearing a joined identifying label. The biosensor provides for optical detection of in-situ hybridization on the distal end surface via the presence of the concomitantly disposed joined identifying label at the differing spatial positions.