Photonic optical crystals siginficantly advance the optical and waveguide capabilities of current fiberoptic platforms. Based on this new technology, an international collaboration has been set up which in part is developing optical chemical and biosensors. Through use of traditional chemistries and receptor molecules, it is intended that rapid advances in robust biocompatible devices are generated through a particular focus on the interfacing of these chemistries with this new generation of optical fibres.