Building bones for blood and beyond: the growing field of bone marrow niche model development

The bone marrow (BM) niche is a complex microenvironment that provides the signals required for regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and the process of hematopoiesis they are responsible for. Bioengineered models of the BM niche incorporate various elements of the in vivo BM microenvironment, including cellular components, soluble factors, a three-dimensional environment, mechanical stimulation of included cells, and perfusion. Recent advances in the bioengineering field have resulted in a spate of new models that shed light on BM function and are approaching precise imitation of the BM niche. These models promise to improve our understanding of the in vivo microenvironment in health and disease. They also aim to serve as platforms for HSC manipulation or as preclinical models for screening novel therapies for BM-associated disorders and diseases.