The Mallikaratchy Lab uses nucleic acids as molecular recognition elements to develop aptamers for targeted therapeutic applications. Positioned at the intersection of chemistry and biology, the lab explores how cell surface receptors respond to extracellular signals. It utilizes folded nucleic acid molecules and aptamers to investigate interactions between cell surface receptors and their cognate ligands. Dr. Mallikaratchy aims to engineer miniaturized molecular devices using nucleic acids for biomedical applications. Her lab has developed Ligand Guided Selection (LIGS), an innovative combinatorial screening technology to identify specific DNA aptamers targeting predetermined biomarkers on whole cells. Dr. Mallikaratchy has also pioneered advancements in synthesizing and elucidating nucleic acids’ structure and biochemical function, including those with chemical modifications. The Mallikaratchy Lab employs a multidisciplinary toolkit integrating in vitro evolution (SELEX), organic chemical synthesis, molecular engineering, molecular biology, biochemistry, molecular biophysics, spectroscopy, and nucleic acid-based functional materials.
Visit Dr. Mallikaratchy’s PubMed and ORCiD pages for research activity and publications.