Vietnamese inventor behind painless vaccine patches elected to US science academy

The election of Nguyen Duc Thanh to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) marks a significant milestone for the Vietnamese-born inventor and his groundbreaking contributions to the medical field. An associate professor at the University of Connecticut, Thanh was among 36 new members recognized by the academy, which serves as a key advisory body on science and technology policy. His selection highlights a career dedicated to pioneering biomedical research that has already attracted over $10 million in federal funding and grants.


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The academy specifically cited Thanh’s work in two revolutionary areas: self-boosting vaccine patches and biodegradable "smart" materials. His research into microneedle vaccines utilizes a fabrication method he co-invented known as SEAL (StampEd Assembly of polymer Layers). This technology creates a skin patch embedded with time-programmed microparticles that can release multiple doses of a vaccine over a set period. By allowing a single, painless application to replace several follow-up injections, this innovation could dramatically improve global immunization efforts, particularly in regions where cold chain storage and medical logistics are a constant challenge.

Thanh’s second major research track involves the development of biodegradable piezoelectric materials. By transforming FDA-approved polymers and natural amino acids into materials that generate electrical signals from mechanical pressure, he has created a way for the body's own energy to power internal sensors or ultrasound transducers. These "smart" materials help monitor and regenerate damaged tissue, such as in cases of orthopedic trauma. Crucially, because these materials are designed to dissolve harmlessly once their task is complete, they eliminate the need for secondary surgeries to remove temporary implants.

The journey to these innovations began in Da Nang, where Thanh attended the Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted. He later graduated from the Talented Engineers Program at Hanoi University of Science and Technology before moving to the United States to pursue a doctorate at Princeton University. Following his dissertation, he conducted postdoctoral research at MIT under Robert Langer, one of the most cited engineers in history, before joining the faculty at the University of Connecticut in 2016.

Throughout his career, Thanh has received numerous prestigious accolades, including the NIH Trailblazer Award and being named one of MIT Technology Review’s "10 Innovators Under 35" in the Asia Pacific region. Beyond his own research, he has become a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors and has dedicated significant time to mentoring the next generation of scientists, including more than ten doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from Vietnam.

To ensure his lab discoveries reach the patients who need them most, Thanh has co-founded two startups: PiezoBioMembrane, Inc. and SingleTimeMicroneedl es, Inc. These companies are currently working to commercialize his biodegradable therapies and microneedle platforms for clinical use. By bridging the gap between high-level academic research and practical medical applications, Thanh continues to lead a new generation of scientists focused on making healthcare less invasive and more accessible worldwide.