Department Of Tropical Biochemistry And Environment

Conduct scientific research; develop and apply technologies; provide training and foster domestic and international collaboration in the fields of inorganic biochemistry, organic biochemistry, supramolecular chemistry, environmental microbiology, and environmental chemistry under Vietnam's tropical climate conditions.

+ Tasks:

- Synthesis, characterization, and development of supramolecular structured materials and bioactive materials for applications in medicine, agriculture, and the environment under Vietnam's tropical climate conditions; 

- Organize domestic and international collaborations, train technical staff, and provide postgraduate training in the fields of inorganic biochemistry, organic biochemistry, supramolecular chemistry, environmental microbiology, and environmental chemistry; 

- Provide related science and technology services; 

- Perform other tasks assigned by the Director.

+ Main Research Directions:

- Develop environmentally friendly materials of natural origin; recycle materials from agricultural and industrial by-products and waste for applications in treating heavy metals, dyes, antibiotic residues, and pathogenic microorganisms in water; 

- Research the synthesis of supramolecular structured materials and bioactive materials for applications in healthcare, pharmaceutical technology, and food preservation; 

- Apply microbial agents in environmental pollution treatment, organic agriculture development, and promotion of circular agriculture models; 

- Develop specific electrochemical sensors using advanced materials, such as functional conductive polymers, for the detection and analysis highly toxic compounds.

Contact information of the Head of Department: Scientific title and full name: Dr. Pham Thi Lan Office: 309, A12 Building Phone: +84 962.184.685 Email: ptlan@ims.(*) - replace (*) = vast.ac.vn

MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT

MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS

• Electrochemical Microsensor Using Conductive Functional Polymer Thin Film: The product exhibits high stability, rapid response, and reusability, making it highly convenient and flexible for on-site analysis. Depending on the chemical nature of the polymer sensor film, it can be used for selective detection of trace amounts of Pb, Cd, Ag, and Hg in water (detection limit < 10-10 mol/L) and for analyzing NO2 gas concentrations down to 1 ppm.

Figure 1. Electrochemical Microsensor

• Magnetic Nanocomposite (Fe3O4@CS@PHMG) for Bacterial-Contaminated Wastewater Treatment: The particle size ranges from 20–35 nm, with a saturation magnetization of 59.5 emu/g, and strong antibacterial activity against most bacteria and fungi, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) < 26 μg/mL.

Figure 2. Nanocomposite Fe3O4/PHMG-Ep.

• Granular Adsorbent Material Made from Natural-Origin Polymer (Sodium Alginate - NaAlg) and Agricultural By-Product (Coconut Shell Activated Carbon): The material is spherical, with a diameter of 3 ± 0.5 mm and a specific surface area of approximately 160 m2/g. Its adsorption capacities for heavy metal ions – Ni2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ are 54 mg/g, 75 mg/g, 75 mg/g, and 102 mg/g, respectively. The material can be reused 3–5 times.

• Antibacterial Coating for Fresh Fruit Preservation: Formulated from natural-origin polymer (chitosan) and a complex of rutin (extracted from Sophora japonica flowers) with cyclodextrin and organically modified nano-titanium oxide. The coating is applied to protect freshly harvested fruit via a dipping method, extending the shelf life of mangoes up to 40 days at 10–12oC.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Thi Lan Pham, Thi Minh Huyen Phan, Manh B. Nguyen, Thi Kim Chinh Tran, Thi My Hanh Le, Van Cuong Bui, Xuan Minh Vu, Huan V. Doan, T.-Thanh-Bao Nguyen, Thi Minh Nguyet Hoang, Dai Lam Tran. Green-synthesized Ag-TiO₂/chitosan-cyclodextrin films for enhanced antibacterial activity and prolonged mango preservation. Food Bioscience, 68, 2025, 106679.
2. Lan T. Pham, Hanh T. M. Le, Le T. T. Tam, Hien T. Dao, Minh X. Vu, Thu H. A. Ngo, Le T. Lu and Dung T. Nguyen. Novel magnetic nanocomposite Fe₃O₄@CS@PHMG as an effective and recyclable antimicrobial material for hospital wastewater disinfection. RSC Advances, 15, 2025, 2792.
3. Le Thi My Hanh, Bui Van Cuong, Vu Xuan Minh, Pham Thi Lan, T. A. Savitskaya, Tran Dai Lam. Preparation and characterization of film based on cellulose acetate with longan seed extract. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 15, 2024, 6479–6490.
4. Xuan Minh Vu, Thi My Hanh Le, Van Cuong Bui, Tuan Dung Nguyen, D. D. Hrynshpan, Van Thuan Le, Dai Lam Tran, Thi Phuong Lan Nguyen, Thi Lan Pham. A promising composite adsorbent of activated carbon and natural alginate for Cu (II) ion removal from aqueous solutions. Carbon Letters, 34, 2024, 769–782.
5. Bui Van Cuong, Pham Thi Lan, Nguyen Thi Lam, Tran Thi Kim Chinh, Le Thi My Hanh, Vu Xuan Minh, Irina M. Le-Deygen, Nguyen Chau Anh, Mai Thanh Tung, Khimi Shuib. Study on synthesizing the complex of sorafenib with 2-hydroxypropyl- β-cyclodextrin to enhance the anticancer activity of the drug substance, Pure and Applied Chemistry 96 (8), 2024, 1091-1099.
6. Pham Thi Lan, Bui Van Cuong, Le Hai Khoa, Le Thi My Hanh, Vu Xuan Minh, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Pham Thi Thu Hoai, Mai Thanh Tung, Savitskaya T.A., Tran Dai Lam. Study on the production of edible coatings based on chitosan and inclusion complex of rutin with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin for avocado preservation, Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, 21, 2024, 1605-1619.
7. Doan Van Dat, Pham Thi Lan, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Bui Van Cuong, Vu Xuan Minh, Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, Le Thi My Hanh, Le Hai Khoa, Mai Thanh Tung, Tran Dai Lam. Activated Carbon/FeO/AgNPs Nanocomposites: In situ Synthesis from Papaya Seeds and Application for Ascorbic acid Detection. Journal of Cluster Science, 35(5), 2024, 1329-1343.
8. Thuy Thi Do, Hung Van Giap, Mai Tuyet Thi Nguyen, Dung Tran Hoang, Huy Le Nguyen, Lu Trong Le, Lam Dai Tran, Dzung Tuan Nguyen. 3D printed layer by layer electrode graphene/poly(1,8 diaminonaphthalene) incorporated with silver nanoparticles as an electrochemical sensing platform for cefepime antibiotic determination. Colloid and Polymer Science, 301, 2023, 1029–1038.
9. Trong V. Vu, Mai T. T. Nguyen, Thuy T. Do, Huy L. Nguyen, Van-Anh Nguyen, Dzung T. Nguyen. Adsorption of Copper Ions onto Poly(1,8-diaminonaphthalene)/Graphene Film for Voltammetric Determination of Pyridoxine. Electroanalysis, 34, 2022, 1478 – 1486.
10. Thi Lan Pham, TR Usacheva, DA Alister, Thi Thu Ha Nguyen, NV Tukumova, NN Kuranova, Xuan Minh Vu, Thi My Hanh Le, Quang Tung Nguyen, Dai Lam Tran. Thermodynamic parameters and quantum chemical calculations of complex formation between rutin and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in water-ethanol solvents, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 366, 2022, 120324.