Ph.D. in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche , 37th cycle (2021-2024)
Ph.D. obtained in 2025
Dissertation:
3D in vitro skin model as broadly available multipurpose platform (Abstract)
Tutors:
Candido Pirri Francesca Frascella Lucia Napione
Research presentation:
Video presentationProfile
Research topic
3D bioprinting for drug screening
Research interests
Biography
Throughout my career, I have specialized in the development of 3D in vitro skin models, contributing to innovation in the preclinical testing of drugs, therapies, and regenerative medicine approaches. My research focuses on biofabricating, characterizing, and applying three-dimensional human tissue models that integrate advanced expertise in tissue engineering, cell biology, and complex culture systems. I have collaborated with international research institutions to develop in vitro models for studying bacterial and viral infections, an experience that has broadened my perspective in translational research and in the assessment of treatment safety and efficacy. I actively contribute to projects requiring advanced tissue modeling, preclinical validation, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams on a global scale.
Awards and Honors
- Invited speaker alla conferenza Nanoinnovation 2023 a Roma (2023)
- Invito a tenere un seminario all'Instituto Pluridisciplinar di Madrid (2023)
- Vincita della borsa Erasmus+ Traineeship a.a. 2022/2023. Allego l'attestato di permanenza firmato dalla supervisor estera. (2023)
- Preso parte al comitato organizzativo del PhD Day del mioc orso di dottorato (2023)
Research
Research projects
Projects funded by competitive calls
- ALIce-MIRROR - Air Liquid Interface skin Model Integration for Realistic RespOnse analysis and pRediction , (2025-2027) - Componente gruppo di Ricerca
University research - Collaborative Projects
Supervised PhD students
- Federica Marchetti. Programme in Bioingegneria E Scienze Medico-chirurgiche (cycle 41, 2025-in progress)
Publications
Works published during the Ph.D. View all publications in Porto@Iris
- Villata, Simona; Santamaria, Chiara; Lopez, Raquel Cue; Galfre', Giulio; Bertana, ... (2025)
Fabrication of cell culture devices with integrated microfluidic networks via vat multimaterial 3D printing. In: JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY. B, vol. 13, pp. 15530-15543. ISSN 2050-750X
Contributo su Rivista - Pietro, Biagio Di; Villata, Simona; Plaksienko, Anna; Guarnieri, Tiziana; Monego, ... (2025)
Modified Methylation Following Electrostimulation in a Standardized Setting—Complementing a Transcriptomic Analysis. In: CELLS, vol. 14, pp. 1-14. ISSN 2073-4409
Contributo su Rivista - Tosini, Marta; Eleonora, Accili; Villata, Simona; Gaudiosi, Marco; Baruffaldi, Desiree; ... (2025)
Methodology for Comparing Viscoelastic and Poroelastic Properties of GelMA Hydrogels at the Cellular Scale. In: 12th European Solid Mechanics Conference ESMC 2025, Lyon (France), 7-11 July 2025, pp. 476-481
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Villata, Simona (2025)
3D in vitro skin model as broadly available multipurpose platform. relatore: PIRRI, Candido; FRASCELLA, FRANCESCA; , 37. XXXVII Ciclo, P.: 224
Doctoral Thesis - Villata, Simona; Baruffaldi, Desiree; CUE LOPEZ, Raquel; Paoletti, Camilla; Bosch, ... (2024)
Broadly Accessible 3D In Vitro Skin Model as a Comprehensive Platform for Antibacterial Therapy Screening. In: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, vol. 16, pp. 70284-70296. ISSN 1944-8252
Contributo su Rivista - Di Pietro, Biagio; Villata, Simona; Dal Monego, Simeone; Degasperi, Margherita; Ghini, ... (2024)
Differential Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Electrostimulation in a Standardized Setting. In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, vol. 25. ISSN 1422-0067
Contributo su Rivista - Tosini, Marta; Tänzer, Torne; Villata, Simona; Baruffaldi, Desiree; Monica, Valentina; ... (2024)
A Methodological Approach for Interpreting and Comparing the Viscoelastic Behaviors of Soft Biological Tissues and Hydrogels at the Cell-Length Scale. In: APPLIED SCIENCES, vol. 14. ISSN 2076-3417
Contributo su Rivista - Villata, Simona; Frascella, Francesca; Gaglio, CESARE GABRIELE; Nastasi, Giuliana; ... (2024)
Self-standing gelatin- methacryloyl 3D structure using Carbopol-embedded printing. In: JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE, vol. 62, pp. 2259-2269. ISSN 2642-4169
Contributo su Rivista - Serino, Gianpaolo; Tosini, Marta; Tanzer, Torne; Villata, Simona; Baruffaldi, Désirée; ... (2023)
A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO INTERPRET AND COMPARE THE VISCOELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUES AND HYDROGELS. In: 28th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics, Maastricht (The Netherlands), 9-12 July 2023, pp. 643-643
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Villata, Simona; Canta, Marta; Baruffaldi, Désirée; Pavan, Alice; Chiappone, Annalisa; ... (2023)
3D printable acrylate polydimethylsiloxane resins for cell culture and drug testing. In: BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE, vol. 11, pp. 2950-2959. ISSN 2047-4830
Contributo su Rivista - Petretta, Mauro; Villata, Simona; Scozzaro, Marika Pia; Roseti, Livia; Favero, Marta; ... (2023)
In Vitro Synovial Membrane 3D Model Developed by Volumetric Extrusion Bioprinting. In: APPLIED SCIENCES, vol. 13. ISSN 2076-3417
Contributo su Rivista - Masante, Beatrice; Gabetti, Stefano; Villata, Simona; Baruffaldi, Desiree; Sanginario, ... (2023)
BIOMIMETIC BIOREACTOR FOR AIR-LIQUID INTERFACE CULTURE - SKIN TISSUE ENGINEERING APPLICATION. In: 28th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics, Maastricht, The Netherlands, 9 - 12 July 2023, pp. 435-435
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Villata, Simona; Canta, Marta; Baruffaldi, Désirée; Roppolo, Ignazio; Pirri, Candido; ... (2023)
3D bioprinted GelMA platform for the production of lung tumor spheroids. In: BIOPRINTING, vol. 36. ISSN 2405-8866
Contributo su Rivista - Masante, Beatrice; Gabetti, Stefano; Baruffaldi, Desiree; Villata, Simona; Sanginario, ... (2023)
Biomimetic air-liquid interface milli-bioreactor for skin tissue engineering applications. In: CENTRO 3R IV ANNUAL MEETING, Milano, Italy, 13 - 15 September 2023, pp. 1-1
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Cacocciola, Nicolo'; Parmeggiani, Matteo; Villata, Simona; Baruffaldi, Désirée; Marasso, ... (2022)
A programmable culture platform for hydrostatic stimulation and in situ pH sensing of lung cancer cells with organic electrochemical transistors. In: MICRO AND NANO ENGINEERING, vol. 16. ISSN 2590-0072
Contributo su Rivista - Cauda, V.; Xu, T. T.; Nunes, I.; Mereu, E.; Villata, S.; Bergaggio, E.; Labrador, M.; ... (2021)
Biomimetic mesoporous vectors enabling the efficient inhibition of wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase in multiple myeloma cells. In: MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS, vol. 325. ISSN 1387-1811
Contributo su Rivista - Cacocciola, Nicolo'; Parmeggiani, Matteo; Segantini, Matteo; Verna, Alessio; Baruffaldi, ... (2021)
A programmable culture platform for stimulation and in situ sensing of lung epithelial cells. In: L'era delle 3R: modelli in silico, in vitro e in vivo per promuovere la ricerca traslazionale, Online, 30 Settembre 2021 - 1 Ottobre 2021. ISSN 2531-9892
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Villata, Simona; Napione, Lucia; Baruffaldi, Désirée; Nardini, Christine; Frascella, ... (2021)
Electrostimulation of a 3D in vitro skin model to activate wound healing. In: III Convegno Annuale "L'era delle 3R: modelli in silico, in vitro e in vivo per promuovere la ricerca traslazionale", evento online, 30 Settembre - 1 Ottobre 2021, pp. 119-120. ISSN 2531-9892
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding)