Biophotonics and Optical Imaging

Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Serhat TOZBURUN

The Tozburun Laboratory, part of the Izmir Biomedical and Genome Center, develops technologies that integrate advanced optical imaging systems with intelligent algorithms and treatment probes to facilitate immediate and informed clinical interventions. Unlike traditional workflows that separate diagnosis and treatment into distinct, often time-consuming stages, our "see-and-treat" concept merges real-time medical and biomedical imaging—particularly AI-driven image analysis—to detect pathological conditions and guide on-the-spot treatment decisions. Our laboratory primarily focuses on applying biomedical technologies, such as optical imaging, thermal therapy, and non-thermal therapy, to endoscopic interventions. The combination of endoscopy and AI-based real-time analysis offers unparalleled precision. Our optical imaging capabilities, which include techniques like Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and holographic imaging, provide high-resolution, non-invasive images of tissues at the tissue and cellular levels. When we combine anatomical and superficial information from traditional white light imaging with advanced optical imaging methods and rapid data interpretation powered by machine learning, our optical tools enable specialist physicians to visualize abnormalities in exquisite detail and treat them immediately and accurately. By merging the strengths of biomedical engineering, optical imaging, endoscopic thermal and non-thermal therapies, and artificial intelligence, our laboratory delivers innovative technologies—especially in gastroenterology—that allow specialist physicians to diagnose and treat patients more efficiently, safely, and effectively, thereby eliminating the need for multiple appointments. Recent efforts focus on negative-pressure, cap-based endoscopic approaches that confine coagulation to superficial esophageal layers, alongside classification methods for dynamic thermal imaging. The lab’s projects have been supported by TUBITAK, TUSEB, Horizon 2020, and Horizon Europe.

Research Areas

• Laser–tissue interaction, photothermal coagulation, non-thermal ablation, and depth-limited ablation approaches. 
• Endoscopic cap/capsule designs and imaging systems geared for clinical translation. 
• Digital Holographic Microscopy for label-free live cell and tissue imaging.
• AI-based image completion/classification (OCT A-scan prediction, dynamic thermal image classification, digital holography). 
• Optical Nerve Stimulation.
• Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).
• Stretched-pulse Mode-Locked Laser Sources
• Patented methods for optical pulse generation, spectral filtering, and scanning protocols. 

Publications

An endoscopic approach providing near‐infrared laser‐induced coagulation with accurate depth limits, Journal of Biophotonics, 2024.

Guide mapping for effective superficial photothermal coagulation of the esophagus using computer simulations with ex vivo sheep model validation study, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2022.

A 1060 nm stretched-pulse mode-locked wavelength-swept laser source providing an A-scan rate of 20 MHz, Optik, 2022.

Monte-Carlo method-based simulations for photothermal mucosa coagulation with accurate depth limits, Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, 2022.

Vagus nerve bundle stimulation using 1505-nm laser irradiation in an in-vivo rat model. Journal of Biophotonics, 2021.

Projects

Ongoing

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD: An endoscopic cap that enables precise control of photothermal coagulation depth and positioning, Ongoing

European Union - RD: Advancing Mountable Endoscopic Cap for Precision Oesophageal Mucosal Resurfacing with Non-Thermal Ablation, Ongoing

Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD: Development of Optical-Domain Subsampling Based Optical Coherence Tomography Using a Wavelength Stepped Laser with Two Phase Modulators and Chromatic Dispersion, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD: All fiber optics, 20-MHz wavelength-swept laser for Optical Coherence Tomography, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD: Development of a New Generation Apparatus Providing Limited Photothermal Ablation, Finished

European Union - RD: Well-Confined Mucosal Laser Ablation with a Negative Pressure Based Endoscopy Capsule, Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD: ENABLE: Endoscopic Mucosa Ablation Device for Barrett’s Esophagus Using Infrared Lasers., Finished

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - TUBITAK - RD: Development of Optical Coherence Tomography Guided Optical Nerve Stimulation System, Finished

Health Institutes of Turkey- TUSEB - RD: An endoscopic cap for non-thermal mucosal ablation with accurate ablation limits, Finished

Patents

Serhat Tozburun ve İbrahim Akkaya 2024, Method and system using optical phase modulation and optical phase demodulation and spectral filtering to generate an optical pulse train, 2020 12,212,114

Serhat Tozburun, Merve Turker-Burhan, Ender Ellidokuz 2024, Negative pressure based imaging and therapeutic apparatus and system for well-confined abnormal mucosal tissue ablation and working method of the system, 18/276,874

Serhat Tozburun 2024, System and method using surface scanning pattern/protocol based on modified electrical waves to produce a wide and dynamic time interval between scans, 18/274,205.

Benjamin Vakoc, Meena Siddiqui ve Serhat Tozburun 2018, System, apparatus and method for utilizing optical dispersion for fourier-domain optical coherence tomography, US10058250B2; US10966613B2; WO2015013651A2; ES2893237T3; EP3025173B1

Nathaniel Michael Fried, Serhat Tozburun 2013, Continuous-wave optical stimulation of nerve tissue, 2013 13/530,465

Staff

Active Members

Ender Berat Ellidokuz (Researcher)

Merve Türker Burhan (Researcher) 

Müge Topcu (PhD Student)

Polatkan Özcan (PhD Student)

Seval Ünal (PhD Student)

Giray Nuri Maviş (MSc Student)

Merve Gülerim (MSc Student)

Ceylan Avcı (Visiting Researcher)

Former Members

İbrahim Akkaya (Researcher)

Emirhan Tosun (Researcher)

Merve Türker Burhan (PhD Student)

Ozan Yetiş (MSc Student)

Hanife Gökkan (MSc Student)

Güldeniz Gülcan (MSc Student)

Berfin Arlı (MSc Student)

Seval Ünal (MSc Student)