Dr Vi Khanh Truong

Dr. Vi-Khanh Truong is an ARC Future Fellow, Fulbright Fellow, and Associate Professor in Biomedical Nanotechnology at Flinders University, where he leads the Biomedical Nanoengineering Laboratory. He earned his Ph.D. in Nanobiotechnology from Swinburne University of Technology in 2012 and has since established an international reputation in biointerface engineering, nanomaterials, and sustainable plasma nanoengineering.

His career spans academia and industry, with early recognition including the International Titanium Association’s award for his pioneering work on titanium implant surfaces, international fellowships at Hannover Laser Zentrum (Germany) and CNRS (France), and industrial appointments at BASF and BlueScope, where he advanced antimicrobial coatings and sustainable agricultural nanotechnologies. The Fulbright Fellowship further expanded his global collaborations, accelerating the translation of nanotechnology innovations into impactful biomedical and environmental applications.

At Flinders, Dr. Truong’s work combines antimicrobial biomaterials, liquid metal bioelectronics, plasma surface engineering, and functional food nanotechnology, addressing challenges in healthcare, environmental engineering, and sustainability. He has published over 180 high-impact papers (Nature Materials, Advanced Materials, Nature Communications, ACS Nano, PNAS), secured multiple PCT-stage patents, and his technologies are advancing toward commercialization in medical devices, wound dressings, sutures, bioelectronic systems, and sustainable materials.

Dr. Truong’s vision integrates nanotechnology, plasma science, and sustainable bioengineering to create materials that serve both human health and planetary health, positioning his lab at the forefront of translational innovation across medicine, food, and the environment.

Potential Projects and Research Directions

Engineering Smart Antimicrobial Biomaterials
Designing nanostructured coatings and bioactive interfaces for implants, devices, and healthcare environments that dynamically respond to microbial presence, reducing infection risks without driving antibiotic resistance.

Designing Conductive Nano-Biointerfaces
Creating advanced conductive surfaces for seamless integration of biological tissues with biomedical electronics (e.g., neural implants, biosensors, pacemakers), while also extending concepts to environmental biosensing for water and soil monitoring.

Smart Biointerfaces for Functional Food Enhancement
Applying nanobiotechnology and material science to engineer food biointerfaces that optimize nutrient delivery, absorption, and gut interaction, targeting healthy longevity and sustainable nutrition.

Plasma-Enhanced Biomaterials
Exploiting atmospheric and low-pressure plasma to engineer multifunctional surfaces not only for biomedicine but also for environmental sustainability — such as antimicrobial coatings for water purification membranes, bioplastics with improved biodegradability, and plasma-enabled valorization of agricultural by-products.