# Mechanical signatures and models of the bone marrow
niche
**Source**: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/352566/
**Parent**: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/315918.html
\
# Mechanical signatures and models of the bone marrow niche
[Rogkoti, Theodora](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/62584.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5394-9074](https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5394-9074), [Donnelly, Hannah](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/50686.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5154-9971](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5154-9971), [Dalby, Matthew J.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-3359](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0528-3359) and [Salmeron-Sanchez, Manuel](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html) [ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-2100](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-2100)
(2025)
Mechanical signatures and models of the bone marrow
niche.
*[Nature Reviews Bioengineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Nature_Reviews_Bioengineering.html)*, 3,
pp. 697-713.
(doi: [10.1038/s44222-025-00305-6](https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-025-00305-6))
| | |
| --- | --- |
| | [Text](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/352566/3/352566.pdf) 352566.pdf - Accepted Version 728kB |
## Abstract
The bone marrow is a complex tissue with distinct cellular and mechanical heterogeneity, serving as the primary site for haematopoiesis. Under certain conditions, such as on the onset of mutations to healthy cells or alterations to the environment, the bone marrow can also become the origin of haematological malignancies, often characterized by uncontrolled self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells, overproduction of immature progeny and remodelling of the tissue microenvironment. This remodelling alters the composition and mechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM), facilitating the proliferation and metastasis of leukaemic cells. The elastic and dissipative properties of the ECM are hallmarks of both health and disease progression in different tissues. However, studying the mechanical properties of bone marrow is difficult owing to inaccessibility in situ. Advanced three-dimensional bioengineered models offer a way to recapitulate the mechanical properties of the bone marrow, but it remains challenging to incorporate the elastic and viscous components. Understanding the physiological and disease-specific mechanical ECM signatures is crucial for advancing bone marrow research and for developing therapeutics. In this Review, we explore the structure–function relationship of the bone marrow, emphasizing its complex mechanical behaviour, and discuss the bioengineered models that recapitulate the mechanical properties in the healthy and diseased bone marrow niche, stressing the importance of replicating ECM physiological and pathological mechanical signatures in the future.
| | |
| --- | --- |
| Item Type: | Articles |
| Additional Information: | This work was supported by BBSRC Grant BB/Z515000/1 (H.D.) Support from EPSRC programme grant EP/X036049/1 (M.J.D.), EPSRC HT 2050 grant EP/X033554/1 (M.S-S.) and ERC AdG devise 101054728 (M.S-S) are acknowledged. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | [Salmeron-Sanchez, Professor Manuel](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html) and [Rogkoti, Dora](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/62584.html) and [Donnelly, Dr Hannah](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/50686.html) and [Dalby, Professor Matthew](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html) |
| Authors: | [Rogkoti, T.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/62584.html), [Donnelly, H.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/50686.html), [Dalby, M. J.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/9268.html), and [Salmeron-Sanchez, M.](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/author/30067.html) |
| College/School: | [College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/20000000/) > [School of Molecular Biosciences](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/25400000/) [College of Science and Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30000000/) > [School of Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30300000/) > [Biomedical Engineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/divisions/30303000/) |
| Journal Name: | [Nature Reviews Bioengineering](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/journal_volume/Nature_Reviews_Bioengineering.html) |
| Publisher: | Nature Research |
| ISSN: | 2731-6092 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2731-6092 |
| Published Online: | 28 April 2025 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2025 Springer Nature Limited |
| First Published: | First published in Nature Reviews Bioengineering 3:697–713 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy |
University Staff: [Request a correction](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/cgi/request_correction?eprintid=352566) | Enlighten Editors: [Update this record](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=352566)
Funder and Project Information
[Funder and Project Information](#)
[Funder and Project Information](#)
Project Code
Award No
Project Name
Principal Investigator
Funder's Name
Funder Ref
Lead Dept
[321953](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/321953.html)
Lymph node organoids come of age
Hannah Donnelly
[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/Biotechnology_and_Biological_Sciences_Research_Council_=28BBSRC=29.html)
BB/Z515000/1
School of Molecular Biosciences
[315221](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/315221.html)
Engineering the bone marrow niche to control stem cell regulation, metastaticevolution and cancer dormancy
Matthew Dalby
[Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/Engineering_and_Physical_Sciences_Research_Council_=28EPSRC=29.html)
EP/X036049/1
School of Molecular Biosciences
[318950](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/318950.html)
Mechanobiology-based medicine - Phase 2
Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
[Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/Engineering_and_Physical_Sciences_Research_Council_=28EPSRC=29.html)
EP/X033554/1
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
[315918](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/project_code/315918.html)
DEVISE - Engineered viscoelasticity in regenerative microenvironments
Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
[EPSRC EU Guarantee (EPSRCEU)](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/view/funder/EPSRC_EU_Guarantee_=28EPSRCEU=29.html)
101054728
ENG - Biomedical Engineering
Deposit and Record Details
[Deposit and Record Details](#)
[Deposit and Record Details](#)
| | |
| --- | --- |
| ID Code: | 352566 |
| Depositing User: | [Mr Alastair Arthur](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/profile/29814) |
| Datestamp: | 12 May 2025 14:43 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Oct 2025 11:50 |
| Date of acceptance: | 17 March 2025 |
| Date of first online publication: | 28 April 2025 |
| Date Deposited: | 4 April 2025 |
| Data Availability Statement: | No |
Download Statistics
[Download Statistics](#)
[Download Statistics](#)
Downloads per month over past year
[View more statistics](#)