AN INNOVATIVE CONTRIBUTION TO HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE
The Faculty of Science at Çankırı Karatekin University continues to attract attention with its high-quality scientific research in the field of health technologies. As part of research conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melike Bilgi Kamaç, a faculty member in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Science, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kemal Sezgintürk, a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University’s Faculty of Engineering, electrochemical biosensor systems capable of contributing to the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer were developed.
Research aimed at the rapid, sensitive, and low-cost detection of biomarkers critical for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer gained significant momentum in 2018 with support from the TÜBİTAK 1001 Program. In the first project conducted under this framework, an innovative approach was developed for the simultaneous electrochemical detection of biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer. The results demonstrated that biosensor systems could serve as a powerful alternative in early diagnosis processes.
The research was taken a step further with the second TÜBİTAK 1001 project, approved in 2022. Under this project, studies were conducted to enable the simultaneous measurement of four different potential ovarian cancer biomarkers. This led to significant progress in developing a next-generation biosensor system that allows for multi-analyte analysis on a single platform.
One of the notable aspects of the 2022 project was the development of a domestic and cost-effective approach to the production infrastructure of biosensors. As an alternative to commercially sourced electrodes—which are imported from abroad and incur high costs—the research team produced low-cost, handmade electrodes in a laboratory setting. This approach is considered a significant achievement in terms of both reducing costs and decreasing reliance on imported consumables. The fact that the produced electrodes are designed to enable the simultaneous measurement of multiple biomarkers further strengthens the innovative nature of the study.
One of the most notable features of the developed biosensor systems is the short analysis time. The system is designed to perform measurements in approximately 20–30 seconds. In this regard, the study has the potential to offer a faster, more practical, and lower-cost alternative compared to traditional laboratory analyses. Furthermore, the ability to adapt the developed systems into point-of-care testing applications that can be used outside the laboratory presents significant opportunities for early diagnosis, monitoring the treatment process, and clinical decision-making support.
The research process has not been limited to academic publications but has also produced practical outcomes. Patent applications have been filed for the developed electrodes and biosensor systems, and the commercialization processes for these products are ongoing. This is particularly significant as it demonstrates the Faculty of Science’s capacity to transform scientific knowledge into health technologies.
The work of Faculty of Science Assistant Professor Dr. Melike Bilgi Kamaç in the fields of analytical chemistry and biosensor technologies has also been recognized internationally. Kamaç has been accepted into Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Honor Society, one of the world’s most established scientific honor societies, in recognition of her scientific achievements. This achievement highlights the international visibility and quality of the research conducted at the Faculty of Science at Çankırı Karatekin University.
The Faculty of Science at Çankırı Karatekin University continues its work with the goal of transforming knowledge generated in the basic sciences for the benefit of health, technology, and society; it continues to contribute to scientific advancement through its capacity to generate projects, inter-university collaborations, and international achievements.
