aLLY BRAWNER ’22, M ’25
Brawner targets atherosclerosis with innovative nanotherapy
When Ally Brawner came to Clemson University, she was looking for more than just a degree. She was looking to make a difference. After earning her graduate degree, she is doing just that by helping to develop an innovative form of personalized medicine targeting the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries.
“I was looking for a place where I could challenge myself, grow as a scientist and make a real impact,” she says. “The support I found here, both in the classroom and in the lab, has helped me become the researcher I am today.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2022, Brawner continued her studies under Associate Professor Alexis Stamatikos in the Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences. She graduated with a master’s degree in food, nutrition and culinary sciences last December and is continuing her research at Clemson as she works toward a doctorate in bioengineering.
Her focus is on atherosclerosis, a disease in which cholesterol accumulates within arterial walls, forming plaques that restrict blood flow.
The therapy she is researching uses polymersomes — tiny, engineered nanoparticles — to deliver therapeutic plasmid DNA directly to cells affected by atherosclerosis. This approach targets the problem where it starts.
“The safety of medication is intertwined with the efficacy of medication,” Brawner says. “The rise of personalized medicine, like this project, has the potential to be even safer than traditional medication because it is targeted to specific mechanisms in the body.”
Coated with a protein sequence that binds to markers expressed during inflammation, these nanoparticles carry DNA that turns off miR‑33a‑5p. This RNA molecule typically suppresses the body’s ability to remove LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. Inactivating this molecule boosts production of ABCA1, a protein that moves cholesterol onto HDL — the “good” cholesterol — for removal from the arteries.
Early in the study, adding the targeting protein caused the particles to clump, reducing their effectiveness. Through careful adjustments, Brawner stabilized the nanoparticles and improved their ability to carry DNA.
The result was a breakthrough. The optimized polymersomes significantly reduced miR‑33a‑5p expression and increased ABCA1 levels.
“We are doing a wealth of assays to determine the effectiveness of the polymersomes,” she says. “This includes measuring cell migration, nitric oxide production, metabolic activity and cell proliferation.”
Brawner and her team use a liquid scintillator and an Agilent Seahorse XF Pro Analyzer. The scintillator is a specialized, transparent chemical mixture that emits light when it interacts with ionizing radiation, a high-energy form of radiation that removes electrons from atoms. The analyzer directly measures cell activity.
The scientists frequently use the Clemson Light Imaging Facility. This facility, located on Clemson’s main campus, houses an array of advanced light microscopes, cytometry equipment, a histology suite and a fully functional molecular biology laboratory.
The scientists expect to have results by August, helping fulfill Brawner’s dream of making an impact.
“To be doing nutrition, drug development and bioengineering is incredible,” she says. “I feel like I’m living a dream.”
