Biophysics

Head of Department

Prof. Dr. Ömer ÇELİK

Academic Staff

Prof. Dr. Mustafa NAZIROĞLU

Prof. Dr. Ömer ÇELİK

Lecturer (Dr.) Ahmi ÖZ

Contact

Phones: +90 246 211 37 08, +90 246 211 37 21, +90 246 211 36 29, +90 246 211 36 44; Laboratory: +90 246 211 36 41

HISTORY

The Department of Biophysics, within the Department of Basic Medical Sciences of Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, was established in 2005 with the appointment of Dr. Mustafa NAZIROĞLU as Head of Department. The department continues to contribute to education and teaching activities by delivering Medical Physics and Biophysics courses to the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Dentistry, the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Department of Biomedical Device Technology of Isparta Vocational School. Since its establishment, 4 PhD theses and 5 Master's theses have been completed under the supervision of the department's faculty members. Our department currently continues to educate 3 PhD students.

LOCATION AND CAPACITY

Our department has 4 research laboratories: the Antioxidant System and Calcium Signaling Research Laboratory, the Western Blot Laboratory, the Cell Culture Laboratory, and the Biopotential Recording and Patch-Clamp Laboratory.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT TRAINING PROCESS

The Research Assistant training period totals 4 years, consisting of 2 years of coursework and 2 years of thesis work. Graduate courses are held regularly every Monday and Thursday. A general department meeting and seminar presentation are held every Tuesday. PhD students give one (1) seminar per month. Under the Erasmus+ Programme, we have bilateral agreements with RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Universidad de Extremadura (Spain), Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy), and Université de Lille (France). Academic staff and student exchange is carried out on a mutual basis.

FIELDS OF STUDY

TRP cation channel research; oxidative stress research; investigation of calcium signaling in neuronal cells and pathophysiological mechanisms (neuropathic pain, migraine, fibromyalgia, and epilepsy); investigation of the molecular pathways of neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease); cell biophysics; radiation biophysics; working principles of medical imaging devices and their biological hazards; experimental disease models (in vivo and in vitro).

LABORATORY FACILITIES

Patch-Clamp set (1 unit); plate reader; centrifuge; refrigerated centrifuge; hematocrit centrifuge; pH meter; spectrofluorometer (Fura-2, Fluo-3, and Fluo-4); UV-Vis spectrophotometer; CO2 incubator (1 unit); ice maker; laminar flow cabinet (2 units); inverted microscope (with fluorescence attachment); stereo microscope (with imaging system); shaking water bath (2 units); heating block; distilled water device; microwave oven; drying oven; ultrasonic homogenizer (sonicator); -30 °C deep freezer (2 units); refrigerator (4 units); gel imaging system; electrophoresis equipment; nitrogen tank.

ANALYSES PERFORMED IN THE DEPARTMENT

Determination of intracellular free Ca2+ by spectrofluorometer; determination of vitamin A, C, E, and β-carotene levels in tissue and extracellular fluids; determination of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels; determination of oxidative stress by lipid peroxidation analysis; biopotential measurement and recording (polygraph applications: EEG in experimental animals, etc.); primary cell culture (isolation of dorsal root ganglion, microglia, and hippocampal cells); secondary cell culture (neuronal lines: SH-SY5Y and PC12; eye cell line: ARPE-19; heart cell line: HCM; cancer lines: DBTRG, MCF-7, R2C, DU-145, Saos-2, etc.); protein detection by Western Blot system; cell viability (MTT) assay; determination of apoptosis; determination of mitochondrial depolarization; determination of intracellular reactive oxygen species production; determination of caspase-3 and caspase-9 enzyme activity; determination of protein amount by Bradford reagent; recording of electrical currents from cells using the Patch-Clamp system.

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS ORGANIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT

Under the coordination of our department, 6 international and 1 national (with international participation) congresses have been organized. In addition, the 5th National Neuroscience Days meeting was hosted by our department in 2013. Inspired by neurobiophysics research, the main field of study of our department, a Neuroscience School has been organized every year since 2015 in order to share the department's growing scientific accumulation with researchers from various universities across our country. The main theme of the School has been designated as Brain Research. Throughout the School, participants receive theoretical training from competent domestic and foreign scientists, clinicians, and researchers in the field, and are also introduced to today's most modern research techniques through hands-on sessions.

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESSES

7th World Congress on Oxidative Stress, Calcium Signaling, and TRP Channels, 20-23 April 2018, Alanya, Antalya (https://2018.cmos.org.tr/); 6th World Congress, 24-27 May 2016, Isparta (https://www.cmos.org.tr/2016/tr/); 5th International Congress on Cell Membranes and Oxidative Stress, 9-12 September 2014, Isparta (https://www.cmos.org.tr/2014/); 4th International Congress, 26-29 June 2012, Isparta (https://www.cmos.org.tr/2012/); 3rd International Congress, 22-27 June 2010, Isparta (https://www.cmos.org.tr/2010/); 2nd International Congress, 25-28 June 2008, Isparta (https://www.cmos.org.tr/2008/index-turkce.html).

NATIONAL CONGRESSES (WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION)

1st National Congress on Ion Channels and Oxidative Stress, 14-16 September 2006, Isparta (https://www.sdu.edu.tr/sempozyum/2006/biophysics/).

INTERNATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE SCHOOLS

4th International Brain Research School, 24-30 June 2019, Isparta (https://2019.brs.org.tr/); 3rd International Brain Research School, 25 June - 1 July 2018, Isparta (https://2018.brs.org.tr/); 2nd International Brain Research School, 6-12 November 2017, Isparta (https://www.cmos.org.tr/brs2017/en/); 1st International Brain Research School, 24 August - 4 September 2015, Isparta (https://www.cmos.org.tr/brs2015/en/).