EDUCATION
AREA OF RESEARCH
Our research group is interested in characterization of aptamer ligand interactions by computational and biochemical means. To achieve this, we combine multidisciplinary approaches and are currently involved in aptamer selection for biomarkers, viruses, and membrane proteins that can later be used to diagnose and/or treat cancer and other diseases. In our studies, we employ computational modeling, aptamer selection, and biophysical characterization using techniques like isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) , fluorescence measurements, and cloning as well as in vivo aptamer expression platforms. Our overall goal is to use nucleic acid aptamers for treating diseases, detecting biomarkers in biological matrices , and combining them in sensing platforms in collaboration with electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineers.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Muslum Ilgu, Shuting Yan, Ryan M. Khounlo, Monica H. Lamm, Marit Nilsen-Hamilton (2019) Common Secondary and Tertiary Structural Features of Aptamer–Ligand Interaction Shared by RNA Aptamers with Different Primary Sequences. Molecules 24 (24), 4535
Muslum Ilgu, Rezzan Fazlioglu, Meric Ozturk, Yasemin Ozsurekci, Marit Nilsen-Hamilton (2019). Aptamers for Diagnostics with Applications for Infectious Diseases. Recent Advances in Analytical Chemistry, Muharrem Ince and Olcay Kaplan Ince, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.84867.
Supipi L. Auwardt, Yeon-Jung Seo, Muslum Ilgu, Judhajeet Ray, Robert R. Feldges, Shambhavi Shubham, Lee Bendickson, Howard A Levine, Marit Nilsen-Hamilton (2018) Nature Scientific reports 8 (1), 1-10
Muslum Ilgu, and Nilsen-Hamilton M (2016). Aptamers in analytics. Analyst 141 (5), 1551-1568. Critical Review*
Muslum Ilgu, Judhajeet Ray, Tianjiao Wang, Ivan M. Geraskin, Lee Bendickson, George A. Kraus and Marit Nilsen-Hamilton (2016). Light-up and FRET aptamer reporters; evaluating their applications for imaging transcription in eukaryotic cells. Methods 98, 26-33.