Biomedical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Signal Processing
19
Scopus Publications
108
Scholar Citations
5
Scholar h-index
3
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Immune-Based Biomarkers as Predictors of Mortality in ECMO Therapy for Severe COVID-19 ARDS: Insights from a Retrospective Study Rosalia Busà, Giovanna Panarello, Alessia Gallo, Vitale Miceli, Salvatore Castelbuono, et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026 Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a vital intervention for patients with severe respiratory failure, particularly in unresponsive acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) cases. However, patient selection for ECMO remains a significant challenge. This study aims to identify novel immune-based biomarkers to improve eligibility assessment and predict outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients undergoing ECMO. This monocentric observational retrospective cohort study included 80 patients with severe COVID-19-related pneumonia who required ECMO support due to unresponsive ARDS. The patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of IRCCS-ISMETT Hospital between September 2020 and April 2021, before the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. All patients were infected with the original SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain. Using machine learning approaches, the study analyzed clinical and laboratory data, cytokine levels, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and immune cell profiles collected within two days of hospitalization. The analysis identified a 5.56-fold increased mortality risk in patients presenting with a combination of immune factors: a T cell exhaustion profile, low interferon-alpha (IFNα) levels, and high calprotectin levels. These immune markers were strongly associated with poorer outcomes in patients undergoing ECMO. Our findings highlight the critical role of immune profiling in ECMO patient selection and outcome prediction. Incorporating immune-based biomarkers into clinical assessments may enhance the evaluation of ECMO eligibility and guide treatment decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
A Bioartificial Device for the Encapsulation of Pancreatic β-Cells Using a Semipermeable Biocompatible Porous Membrane Nicola Cuscino, Salvatore Castelbuono, Claudio Centi, Rosaria Tinnirello, Maura Cimino, et al. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025 Background/Objectives: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by the destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to insulin deficiency. Current therapies, such as islet transplantation, face significant challenges, including limited donor availability and the need for lifelong immunosuppression. Encapsulation technologies offer a promising alternative, providing immune protection and maintaining β-cell viability. In this study, we propose an encapsulation device featuring a spiral tubular semipermeable polyethersulfone (PES) membrane reinforced with a rigid biocompatible resin scaffold. Methods: The PES membrane was engineered with a tailored porosity of 0.5 µm, enabling efficient nutrient and oxygen exchange while preventing immune cell infiltration. Using INS-1E insulin-secreting cells aggregated into size-controlled islet-like spheroids (ILSs), we evaluated the device’s performance. Results: The device achieved high ILS viability and insulin secretion over 48 h at therapeutic densities, maintaining functionality comparable to free-floating ILSs (control). The PES membrane, with its mechanical stability and biocompatibility, ensured durability without compromising diffusion dynamics, overcoming a critical limitation of other encapsulation approaches. Importantly, the device geometry allowed for the encapsulation of up to 356,000 islet equivalents (IEQs) in a single capillary fiber, reaching therapeutic thresholds for T1D patients. Conclusions: this device, with its innovative design, enables high-density encapsulation while preserving ILS functionality and scalability, making it a potential platform for clinical application. This work highlights the potential of PES-based encapsulation devices to overcome key barriers in T1D treatment, paving the way for personalized, long-term solutions to restore insulin independence.
Generation of a virtual cohort of TAVI patients for in silico trials: a statistical shape and machine learning analysis Roberta Scuoppo, Salvatore Castelbuono, Stefano Cannata, Giovanni Gentile, Valentina Agnese, et al. Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, 2025 Purpose In silico trials using computational modeling and simulations can complement clinical trials to improve the time-to-market of complex cardiovascular devices in humans. This study aims to investigate the significance of synthetic data in developing in silico trials for assessing the safety and efficacy of cardiovascular devices, focusing on bioprostheses designed for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods A statistical shape model (SSM) was employed to extract uncorrelated shape features from TAVI patients, enabling the augmentation of the original patient population into a clinically validated synthetic cohort. Machine learning techniques were utilized not only for risk stratification and classification but also for predicting the physiological variability within the original patient population. Results By randomly varying the statistical shape modes within a range of ± 2σ, a hundred virtual patients were generated, forming the synthetic cohort. Validation against the original patient population was conducted using morphological measurements. Support vector machine regression, based on selected shape modes (principal component scores), effectively predicted the peak pressure gradient across the stenosis (R-squared of 0.551 and RMSE of 11.67 mmHg). Multilayer perceptron neural network accurately predicted the optimal device size for implantation with high sensitivity and specificity (AUC = 0.98). Conclusion The study highlights the potential of integrating computational predictions, advanced machine learning techniques, and synthetic data generation to improve predictive accuracy and assess TAVI-related outcomes through in silico trials. Graphical Abstract
The impact of loss functions and optimizers on U-Net for aneurysmal ascending aorta segmentation Convegno Nazionale Di Bioingegneria, 2025
Statistical Characterization of Brain Functional Connectivity in Patients at Risk of Post Operative Cognitive Decline Convegno Nazionale Di Bioingegneria, 2025
Immune-Based Biomarkers as Predictors of Mortality in ECMO Therapy for Severe COVID-19 ARDS: Insights from a Retrospective Study R Busà, G Panarello, A Gallo, V Miceli, S Castelbuono, MC Sorrentino, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27 (1), 390 , 2025 2025
Proteome profiling of cerebrospinal fluid and machine learning reveal protein classifiers of two forms of Alzheimer’s disease characterized by increased or not altered levels … E Scalia, M Calligaris, ML Pinto, S Castelbuono, M Iemmolo, VL Re, ... Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 24 (8) , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Circulating biomarkers in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease treated with nintedanib: a pilot study V Miceli, A Callari, E Calzolari, S Castelbuono, C Claudia, N Lanzarone, ... Scientific Reports 15 (1), 27115 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Immune profiling in solid organ transplant recipients with HHV-8 infection: Identification of immunological biomarkers for KICS and Kaposi's sarcoma R Busà, F Timoneri, M Miele, M Di Bella, A Cona, S Castelbuono, ... Clinical Immunology, 110562 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Whole-genome sequencing characterisation of a new KPC-245 variant-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae strain isolated from a transplanted patient and resistant to ceftazidime … C Vaiana, R Vazzana, S Castelbuono, A Cona, A Mularoni, R Minucci, ... Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance 42, 229-233 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Serologic screening and molecular surveillance of Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus/human herpesvirus-8 infections for early recognition and effective treatment of Kaposi sarcoma … A Mularoni, A Cona, M Bulati, R Busà, M Miele, F Timoneri, M Di Bella, ... American Journal of Transplantation 25 (5), 1070-1085 , 2025 2025 Citations: 31
Exposure of monocyte-derived macrophages to the UV-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 VOCs shows similar effects on the transcriptomic profile as active virus: a comparative analysis JC Sammartino, R Vazzana, N Cuscino, S Castelbuono, R Giambruno, ... Journal of Translational Medicine 23 (1), 332 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
A bioartificial device for the encapsulation of pancreatic β-cells using a semipermeable biocompatible porous membrane N Cuscino, S Castelbuono, C Centi, R Tinnirello, M Cimino, G Zito, ... Journal of Clinical Medicine 14 (5), 1631 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Transcriptomic profiles of monocyte-derived macrophages exposed to SARS-CoV-2 VOCs reveal immune-evasion escape driven by delta A Gallo, JC Sammartino, R Vazzana, R Giambruno, C Carcione, ... Journal of Translational Medicine 23 (1), 151 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Generation of a virtual cohort of TAVI patients for in silico trials: a statistical shape and machine learning analysis R Scuoppo, S Castelbuono, S Cannata, G Gentile, V Agnese, D Bellavia, ... Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing 63 (2), 467-482 , 2025 2025 Citations: 9
Statistical Characterization of Brain Functional Connectivity in Patients at Risk of Post Operative Cognitive Decline S Castelbuono, L Sparacino, V Lo Re, E Lo Gerfo, G Sparacia, N Cuscino, ... ... NATIONAL CONGRESS OF BIOENGINEERING. PROCEEDINGS , 2025 2025
The impact of loss functions and optimizers on U-Net for aneurysmal ascending aorta segmentation C Livolsi, L Nioi, S Castelbuono, S Pasta, N Cuscino ... NATIONAL CONGRESS OF BIOENGINEERING. PROCEEDINGS , 2025 2025
Information-Theoretic Characterization of Short-Term Heart Rate Variability in Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Heart Failure Patients During Exercise S Castelbuono, D Bellavia, L Sparacino, Y Antonacci, E La Franca, ... ACE 31, 39.4 , 2025 2025
Ultra-short-term heart rate variability of home-monitored heart failure patients: a case study S Castelbuono, C Barà, R Pernice, L Faes, D Bellavia 2024 13th Conference of the European Study Group on Cardiovascular … , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Proteomic analysis and functional validation reveal distinct therapeutic capabilities related to priming of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells with IFN-γ and hypoxia: potential … M Calligaris, G Zito, R Busà, M Bulati, G Iannolo, A Gallo, AP Carreca, ... Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 12, 1385712 , 2024 2024 Citations: 17
Human Amniotic MSC Response in LPS-Stimulated Ascites from Patients with Cirrhosis: FOXO1 Gene and Th17 Activation in Enhanced Antibacterial Activation M Pampalone, N Cuscino, G Iannolo, G Amico, C Ricordi, G Vitale, ... International journal of molecular sciences 25 (5), 2801 , 2024 2024
Cytokine storm and severe hepatitis in pregnancy due to herpes simplex virus 2 A Mularoni, A Cona, L Ribeiro Dias, M Bulati, R Busà, S Castelbuono, ... Infection 52 (1), 259-263 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
3D culture and interferon-γ Priming modulates characteristics of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells by modifying the expression of both intracellular and exosomal microRNAs M Bulati, A Gallo, G Zito, R Busà, G Iannolo, N Cuscino, S Castelbuono, ... Biology 12 (8), 1063 , 2023 2023 Citations: 19
Bayesian supervised machine learning classification of neural networks with pathological perturbations R Levi, VD Valderhaug, S Castelbuono, A Sandvig, I Sandvig, R Barbieri Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express 7 (6), 065021 , 2021 2021 Citations: 8
Analysis of Resting-State Functional Connectomes Based on the Graph Embedding Pipeline Rest2vec S Castelbuono University of Illinois at Chicago , 2021 2021
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Serologic screening and molecular surveillance of Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus/human herpesvirus-8 infections for early recognition and effective treatment of Kaposi sarcoma … A Mularoni, A Cona, M Bulati, R Busà, M Miele, F Timoneri, M Di Bella, ... American Journal of Transplantation 25 (5), 1070-1085 , 2025 2025 Citations: 31
3D culture and interferon-γ Priming modulates characteristics of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells by modifying the expression of both intracellular and exosomal microRNAs M Bulati, A Gallo, G Zito, R Busà, G Iannolo, N Cuscino, S Castelbuono, ... Biology 12 (8), 1063 , 2023 2023 Citations: 19
Proteomic analysis and functional validation reveal distinct therapeutic capabilities related to priming of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells with IFN-γ and hypoxia: potential … M Calligaris, G Zito, R Busà, M Bulati, G Iannolo, A Gallo, AP Carreca, ... Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 12, 1385712 , 2024 2024 Citations: 17
Generation of a virtual cohort of TAVI patients for in silico trials: a statistical shape and machine learning analysis R Scuoppo, S Castelbuono, S Cannata, G Gentile, V Agnese, D Bellavia, ... Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing 63 (2), 467-482 , 2025 2025 Citations: 9
Bayesian supervised machine learning classification of neural networks with pathological perturbations R Levi, VD Valderhaug, S Castelbuono, A Sandvig, I Sandvig, R Barbieri Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express 7 (6), 065021 , 2021 2021 Citations: 8
Whole-genome sequencing characterisation of a new KPC-245 variant-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae strain isolated from a transplanted patient and resistant to ceftazidime … C Vaiana, R Vazzana, S Castelbuono, A Cona, A Mularoni, R Minucci, ... Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance 42, 229-233 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Immune profiling in solid organ transplant recipients with HHV-8 infection: Identification of immunological biomarkers for KICS and Kaposi's sarcoma R Busà, F Timoneri, M Miele, M Di Bella, A Cona, S Castelbuono, ... Clinical Immunology, 110562 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
A bioartificial device for the encapsulation of pancreatic β-cells using a semipermeable biocompatible porous membrane N Cuscino, S Castelbuono, C Centi, R Tinnirello, M Cimino, G Zito, ... Journal of Clinical Medicine 14 (5), 1631 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Transcriptomic profiles of monocyte-derived macrophages exposed to SARS-CoV-2 VOCs reveal immune-evasion escape driven by delta A Gallo, JC Sammartino, R Vazzana, R Giambruno, C Carcione, ... Journal of Translational Medicine 23 (1), 151 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Proteome profiling of cerebrospinal fluid and machine learning reveal protein classifiers of two forms of Alzheimer’s disease characterized by increased or not altered levels … E Scalia, M Calligaris, ML Pinto, S Castelbuono, M Iemmolo, VL Re, ... Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 24 (8) , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Circulating biomarkers in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease treated with nintedanib: a pilot study V Miceli, A Callari, E Calzolari, S Castelbuono, C Claudia, N Lanzarone, ... Scientific Reports 15 (1), 27115 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Exposure of monocyte-derived macrophages to the UV-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 VOCs shows similar effects on the transcriptomic profile as active virus: a comparative analysis JC Sammartino, R Vazzana, N Cuscino, S Castelbuono, R Giambruno, ... Journal of Translational Medicine 23 (1), 332 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Ultra-short-term heart rate variability of home-monitored heart failure patients: a case study S Castelbuono, C Barà, R Pernice, L Faes, D Bellavia 2024 13th Conference of the European Study Group on Cardiovascular … , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Cytokine storm and severe hepatitis in pregnancy due to herpes simplex virus 2 A Mularoni, A Cona, L Ribeiro Dias, M Bulati, R Busà, S Castelbuono, ... Infection 52 (1), 259-263 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Immune-Based Biomarkers as Predictors of Mortality in ECMO Therapy for Severe COVID-19 ARDS: Insights from a Retrospective Study R Busà, G Panarello, A Gallo, V Miceli, S Castelbuono, MC Sorrentino, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27 (1), 390 , 2025 2025
Statistical Characterization of Brain Functional Connectivity in Patients at Risk of Post Operative Cognitive Decline S Castelbuono, L Sparacino, V Lo Re, E Lo Gerfo, G Sparacia, N Cuscino, ... ... NATIONAL CONGRESS OF BIOENGINEERING. PROCEEDINGS , 2025 2025
The impact of loss functions and optimizers on U-Net for aneurysmal ascending aorta segmentation C Livolsi, L Nioi, S Castelbuono, S Pasta, N Cuscino ... NATIONAL CONGRESS OF BIOENGINEERING. PROCEEDINGS , 2025 2025
Information-Theoretic Characterization of Short-Term Heart Rate Variability in Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Heart Failure Patients During Exercise S Castelbuono, D Bellavia, L Sparacino, Y Antonacci, E La Franca, ... ACE 31, 39.4 , 2025 2025
Human Amniotic MSC Response in LPS-Stimulated Ascites from Patients with Cirrhosis: FOXO1 Gene and Th17 Activation in Enhanced Antibacterial Activation M Pampalone, N Cuscino, G Iannolo, G Amico, C Ricordi, G Vitale, ... International journal of molecular sciences 25 (5), 2801 , 2024 2024
Analysis of Resting-State Functional Connectomes Based on the Graph Embedding Pipeline Rest2vec S Castelbuono University of Illinois at Chicago , 2021 2021
