Shifting gears to the second component of our idea -- aptamers. Initially, we faced great difficulty in finding experts on aptamers within in our reach. After deliberate search and consultation, we came to learn that Prof. Rahul Roy, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, uses aptamers to create biosensors and devices.
Without further ado, we consulted him about aptamers, seeking suggestions on how we might proceed with it. Prof. Rahul Roy suggested that we use DNA-based aptamers, due to their stability and ease of handling. He also suggested that we look for a time-efficient way of performing SELEX, as conventional SELEX would not fit into our timeframe. This encouraged us to look for new protocols, and modified SELEX methods.