Electrochemical Biosensor Systems

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Seda Nur TOPKAYA ÇETİN

Topkaya Lab focuses on the development of biosensor systems based on electrochemical and optical analytical techniques. Our research areas include alternative antibiotic susceptibility testing, the detection of gene mutations and nucleic acid-based deletions/insertions, analysis of DNA–drug interactions, and the monitoring of environmental pollutants (in water and soil) as well as foodborne toxins. Our core research approach involves modifying electrode surfaces with nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles, and graphene derivatives; designing selective recognition layers via molecular imprinting technology; and achieving sensitive signal detection using voltammetric, amperometric, and impedimetric methods. We also work on incubator-integrated electrochemical measurement platforms for cell-based systems, portable diagnostic devices, and microfluidic-supported sensor designs. The biosensor systems we develop aim to provide fast, reliable, and user-friendly solutions for applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and food safety.

Research Areas

Electrochemical and optical-based biosensor systems
Plasmonic biosensors
Molecular imprinting and biomolecular recognition
Nanomaterial-based surface modifications
Alternative antibiotic susceptibility tests
DNA hybridization and DNA-drug interaction
Cell-based analysis platforms

Publications

Isbilir H, Kaya HO, Tekintaş Y, Kurul F, Cetin AE, Topkaya SN. Enhanced electrochemical biosensing of Candida albicans via NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticle-doped imprinted polymers. Microchemical Journal, 215, 114513 (2025).

Kaya HO, Tekintaş Y, Karadeniz H, Isbilir H, Temel A, Topkaya SN. Accelerated Electrochemical Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Using Disposable Electrodes and Resazurin. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 265, 117011 (2025).

Kurul F, Avci MB, Acar B, Topkaya SN, Cetin AE. Incubator-Integrated Electrochemical Analysis Platform for Cell-Based Studies. npj Biosensing, 2, 6 (2025).

Karaca Açarı I, Kurul F, Avci MB, Yasar SD, Topkaya SN, Açarı C, Ünsal E, Makay B, Köytepe S, Ates B, Yilmaz İ, Seçkin T, Cetin AE. A plasmonic biosensor pre-diagnostic tool for Familial Mediterranean Fever. Nature Communications, 15, 8515 (2024).

Kaya HO, Tekintaş Y, Kurul F, Cetin AE, Topkaya SN. Targeted Microorganism Detection with Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Biosensors. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 971, 118575 (2024).

Projects

As Principal Investigator

Antibiotic Susceptibility and Resistance Test Kit with Ceragenin 44 and Resazurin, TÜSEB-A4-01 Group, Project No: 44357, 2025 – Ongoing
Development of a Test Apparatus and Multifunctional Software for Electrochemical Analysis Based on Screen-Printed Electrodes, TÜBİTAK 1005, Project No: 123Z570, 2023–2025
Development of an Electrochemical Biosensor for Detecting Antibiotic Susceptibility of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Shigella sonnei, TÜSEB A Group, Project No: 22498, 2022–2024
Detection of Enterococcus faecium via Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Electrochemical Biosensor System, İKÇÜ-GAP, Project No: 2022-GAP-ECZF-0009, 2022–2023

As Researcher

Incubator-Integrated Electrochemical Analysis Platform for Cell-Based Studies, TÜBİTAK 1005, Project No: 122E384, 2022–2024
Development and Application of Nanomaterial-Modified Electrochemical Biosensors for Pathogen Detection, Ege University BAP, Project No: 24143, 2022–2025
Label-Free Plasmonic Biosensor Design for Detecting Therapeutic Response of Cancer Cells, TÜBİTAK 3501, Project No: 119E111, 2019–2022
Economic and Portable Biosensor System for the Diagnosis of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), TÜBİTAK 1005, Project No: 119E649, 2020–2022
Spectrophotometric and Electrochemical Investigation and Validation of the Active Substance Nateglinide in Pharmaceutical Preparations, Namık Kemal University BAP, Project No: NKUBAP.00.GA.19.217, 2019–2020

As Advisor

Electrochemical Detection of Candida albicans Pathogen Using Metal Nanoparticle-Modified Molecularly Imprinted Polymer, TÜSEB-YL, Project No: 2022-A2-YL 31174, 2023–2024
Electrochemical Investigation of the Effect of Viburnum Opulus (Gilaburu) Extract on DNA, TÜBİTAK 2209-A, Project No: 1919B012301367, 2023–2024
Electrochemical Investigation and DNA Interaction Studies of Potential Drug Candidate Thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine Derivatives, TÜBİTAK 2209-A, Project No: 1919B012302051, 2023–2024
Syringe Pump System with Continuous Transfer Enabled by an Air Bubble Tracking Mechanism, TÜBİTAK 2209-B, Project No: 1139B412100962, 2021–2022

Patents

Arif E. Cetin, Seda Nur Topkaya, Incubator-Integrated Electrochemical Analysis Platform, TR Patent, Patent Number: 2023/019240, 2025

Arif E. Cetin, Idil Karaca Acari, Seda Nur Topkaya Cetin, Burhan Ates, Suleyman Koytepe, Turgay Seckin, Sevket Erbil Unsal, Balahan Makay, Ceyhun Acari, Ismet Yılmaz, Biosensor System for Diagnosis of FMF (Familial Mediterranean Fever) Disease, TR Patent Application 2022/017709 – Under Review (2022), US Patent Application – Under Review (2025)

Arif E. Cetin, Idil Karaca Acari, Seda Nur Topkaya Cetin, Burhan Ates, Süleyman Koytepe, Turgay Seçkin, Şevket Erbil Ünsal, Balahan Makay, Ceyhun Açarı, İsmet Yılmaz, Biosensor System for Diagnosis of FMF (Familial Mediterranean Fever), PCT WO/20241/12303A1, 2024

Staff

Dr. İrem Aydın Kırlangıç (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Şevval Janat (PhD Student)