Design of Sustained Release Antimalarial Chitosan Nanoparticles; An Analysis of How Eugenic Science’s Principles Have Been Perpetuated in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Public health is a national issue in the United States as the healthcare system is responsible for providing quality care to all individuals regardless of race or ethnicity. This care is provided through disease prevention, health education, and access to healthcare. The United States has responded to numerous infectious diseases including chlamydia, influenza, pneumonia, and most recently, coronavirus (COVID-19). The United States must also account for isolated diseases such as malaria that do not serve as an immediate threat but pose an extreme danger for military troops deployed in high-risk areas. Public health aims to limit health disparities in relation to these diseases and promote health care equity, quality, and accessibility. The final technical deliverable, an antimalarial drug delivery system, will improve the public health among affected communities as this treatment will achieve sustained release up to four weeks compared to an oral pill, the current preventative measure, which requires daily ingestion. Meanwhile, research of racially biased healthcare policies being perpetuated during the COVID-19 pandemic offers insight into the injustices marginalized people face. This research aims to improve public health and national healthcare, so health equity is achievable for all people.

School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Technical Advisor: Shannon Barker
STS Advisor: Bryn Elizabeth Seabrook
Technical Team Members: Emma Lehmann