Prof. Alberto Rainer

Born in 1976, he obtained a Degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Trieste (2002) and a PhD in Materials for the Environment and Energy from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” (2007). In 2012, he was a Researcher in Chemical Foundations of Technologies (SSD CHIM/07) at theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma. From 2018 to 2025, he is Associate Professor in Industrial Bioengineering (SSD ING-IND/34) at the same University. Since February 2025, he is Full Professor of Bioengineering (IBIO-01/A).

The research activity of prof. Rainer belongs to the field of engineered in vitro cell culture models, which exploit biofabrication techniques (additive manufacturing, organ-on-chip) and cells derived from iPSCs. His research activity also addresses topics related to mechanobiology, using engineered substrates to evaluate the mechanical response of cells to conformational stimuli.

Prof. Rainer is a founding member of the National Bioengineering Group, a member of the Scientific and Teaching Council of Centro3R (Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs in Teaching and Research), a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Italian Organ-on-Chip Society (SIOoC). The scientific activity of prof. Rainer is documented by over 100 scientific articles (h-index 33, 3480 citations). He has been organizer of national and international conferences and invited speaker at numerous national and international scientific events.

Its ability to exploit research results is demonstrated by a co-ownership patent UCBM / UCS Diagnostics (IT102016000111352 – Porous material for cytoinclusion, process for the obtaining thereof and its use. Italian patent granted; application for extension in EU, USA, Canada and India) currently licensed and marketed under the name “Cytomatrix”.

1. G. Mathew, ED Lemma, D. Fontana, C. Zhang, A. Rainer, S. Sekula-Neuner, J. Aghassi-Haamann, M. Hirtz, E. Berganza. Site-Selective Biofunctionalization of 3D Microstructures Via Direct Ink Writing

(2024) 20 2404429. doi: 10.1002/smll.202404429

3. C. Brandi, A. De Ninno, F. Ruggiero, E. Limiti, F. Abbruzzese, M. Trombetta, A. Rainer, P. Bisegna, F. Caselli. On the compatibility of single-cell microcarriers (nanovials) with microfluidic impedance cytometry. Lab Chip 24 (2024) 2883-2892.

4. S. Giannitelli, V. Peluzzi, S. Raniolo, G. Roscilli, M. Trombetta, P. Mozetic, A. Rainer. On-chip recapitulation of the tumor microenvironment: A decade of progress. Biomaterials 306 (2024) 122482.

5. S.M. Giannitelli, E. Limits, P. Mozetic, F. Pinelli, Droplet-based microfluidic synthesis of nanogels for controlled drug delivery: tailoring nanomaterial properties via pneumatically actuated flow-focusing junction. Nanoscale 14 (2022) 11415-11428. doi:10.1039/D2NR00827K.

6. E. Limits, P. Mozetic, S.M. Giannitelli, F. Pinelli, X. Han, D. Del rio, F. Abbruzzese, F. Basoli, L. Rosanò, S. Scialla, M. Trombetta, G. Gigli ZJ Zhang, E. Mauri, A. Rainer, Hyaluronic Acid-Polyethyleneimine Nanogels for Controlled Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 5 (2022) 5544-5557. Doi:10.1021/acsanm.2c00524.

7. A. Zancla, P. Mozetic, M. Orsini, G. Forte, A. Rainer, A primer to Traction Force Microscopy. J Biol Chem 298 (2022) 101867. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101867.

8. E. Fornetti, S. Testa, F. De Paolis, C. Fuoco, S. Bernardini, V. Pozo Devoto, GB Stokin, S.M. Giannitelli, A. Rainer, A. Bigot, C. Zoccali, J. Baldi, D. Sandonà, R. Rizzi, C. Bearzi, G. Forte, S. Cannata, C. Gargioli.

Dystrophic Muscle Affects Motoneuron Axon Outgrowth and NMJ Assembly. Adv Mater Tech (2022) 2101216. doi:10.1002/admt.202101216

9. E. Mauri, M. Gori, S.M. Giannitelli, A. Zancla, P. Mozetic, F. Abbruzzese, N. Merendino, G. Gigli, F. Rossi, M. Trombetta, A. Rainer. Nano-encapsulation of hydroxytyrosol into formulated nanogels improves therapeutic effects against hepatic steatosis: An in vitro study. Mater Sci Eng C 124 (2021) 112080. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112080.

10. I. Masi, V. Caprara, F. Spadaro, L. Chellini, R. Sestito, A. Zancla, A. Rainer, A. Bagnato, L. Rosanò. Endothelin-1 drives invadopodia and interaction with mesothelial cells through ILK. Cell Rep 34 (2021) 108800. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108800.

11. M. Costantini, S. Testa, E. Fornetti, C. Fuoco, C. Sanchez Riera, M. Nie, S. Bernardini, A. Rainer, J. Baldi, C. Zoccali, R. Biagini, L. Castagnoli, L. Vitiello, B. Blaauw, D. Seliktar, W. Święszkowski, P. Garstecki, S. Takeuchi, G. Cesareni, S. Cannata, C. Gargioli. Biofabricating murine and human myo-substitutes for rapid volumetric muscle loss restoration. EMBO Mol Med 13 (2021) e12778. doi: 10.15252/emmm.202012778.

12. AR Perestrelo, AC Silva, J. Oliver-De La Cruz, F. Martino, V. Horvath, G. Caluori, O. Polanský, V. Vinarsky, G. Azzato, G. de Marco, V. Zampachova, P. Skladal, S. Pagliari, A. Rainer, P. Pinto-do-Ó, A. Caravella, K. Koci, DS Nascimento, G. Strong. Multiscale Analysis of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in the Failing Heart. Circulation Research 128 (2021) 24-38. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317685.

13. S. Pagliari, V. Vinarsky, F. Martino, AR Perestrelo, J. Oliver-De La Cruz, G. Caluori, J. Vrbsky, P. Mozetic, A. Pompeiano, A. Zancla, SG Ranjani, P. Skladal, D. Kytyr, Z. Zdráhal, G. Grassi, M. Sampaolesi, A. Rainer, G. Forte. YAP–TEAD1 control of cytoskeleton dynamics and intracellular tension guides human pluripotent stem cell mesoderm specification. Cell Death & Differentiation 28 (2021) 1193–1207 doi: 10.1038/s41418-020-00643-5.