The bone marrow serves as the primary location for hematopoiesis, the process by which hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) renew the body's blood cell population. These HSCs are intricately regulated within specialized microenvironments known as stem cell niches. Our research, along with others', demonstrates that beyond biological and chemical cues, physical parameters significantly influence HSC behavior within these niches, a discovery facilitated by tailor-made biomaterials.

Beyond HSCs, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), as well as tumor cells in metastatic diseases or hematological malignancies like leukemia, exploit the rich milieu of the bone marrow. Through scaffold-based in vitro models of the bone marrow, we explore how the dynamic interplay among different cell types and cell-matrix interactions evolves during such pathological conditions, considering both biochemical and biophysical characteristics. Additionally, we advance these bone marrow models into platforms for drug testing, enabling the evaluation of efficacy and potential toxic side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy.