Dr Yetisen's research involves the development of nano/microscale devices, optical sensors, microfluidic chips, and smartphone-based readout technologies for point-of-care diagnostics. He specialises in photonics and biomaterials with a focus on optical sensors that analyse patient samples. He has developed several optical sensing platforms that quantitatively report on the concentrations of biomolecules. Specifically, he uses functionalised hydrogels, graphene, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, and techniques such as laser printing, holography, and microfluidics to create analyte-sensitive optical sensors. These devices have the ability to quantitatively measure pH, alcohols, glucose, lactate, fructose, osmolarity, electrolytes, heavy metals and proteins in clinical samples (e.g. urine, tear, blood). For sensor readouts, he developed a smartphone application that quantified the concentration of the optical sensors using the camera and sending data via a secure network to a centralised database. He also successfully carried out a clinical trial of these optical sensors to rapidly screen for diabetes, among high-risk individuals in the clinic. His research in nanotechnology led to a range of novel devices including world’s thinnest Fresnel lens, first rewritable holographic data storage, and first substrate-free photonic crystals.
His invention about automated immunehistochemistry and in situ hybridization slide staining system has been licensed by Diagnostics Division, Hoffmann-La Roche - under the trademark of BenchMark ULTRA. Recently, his work on the development of mobile medical applications led to a startup company (Colorimetrix) in Munich, Germany. His recent research focuses on the application on these platform technologies for application in minimally-invasive wearable devices with subcutaneous probes and implantable chips for prolonged diabetes monitoring, and contact lens sensors for electrolyte analyses in dry eye diagnostics.
his group’s research interests are primarily focused on the development and validation of biophotonic medical devices and sensors for application in clinical or point-of-care diagnostics. They conduct research to create novel materials and photonics devices that can reversibly sense a wide range of biomarkers in biological samples at nano/micromolar sensitivity. The applications of these biophotonic technologies are in wearable devices, minimally-invasive sensors with subcutaneous probes, and implantable chips for prolonged biomarker monitoring.