Abstract: Disclosed is a system using each of the descrete emitters in a III-nitride micro-emitter array as a light source for measuring the properties of independent samples of biological materials deposed on a micro-array using some form of detecting device, e.g, a detector array or charge-coupled device. In embodiments the emitter array produces deep ultraviolet in investigating protein-protein interactions or to detect biological and chemical molecules with high specificity by monitoring changes in a protein's intrinsic fluorescence.