Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have created a groundbreaking 'bone marrow-on-a-chip' that mimics the natural environment of human bone marrow. This innovative platform allows researchers to study the complexities of blood cell production, disease effects, and potential treatments in a controlled and human-relevant setting.
University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied ScienceJan 31 2025 Hidden within our bones, marrow sustains life by producing billions of blood cells daily, from oxygen-carrying red cells to immune-boosting white cells. This vital function is often disrupted in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, which can damage the marrow and lead to dangerously low white cell counts, leaving patients vulnerable to infection.
The bone marrow-on-a-chip allows researchers to simulate and study common side effects of medical treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer patients. When connected to another device, it can even model how the bone marrow communicates with other organs, like the lungs, to protect them from infections and other potentially life-threatening conditions.
Unfortunately, the researchers never had the chance to conduct paired experiments - some on earth, and others on the ISS - whose results they could compare. "Much to our disappointment, the flow controller of the cubelab system required to sustain our engineered tissue models short-circuited during ascent," recalls Huh. "And the second launch was canceled due to the pandemic."
In the past, researchers tried combining these ingredients, but struggled to replicate the structure and behavior of actual human marrow. "All organs in the human body are complex, but the anatomical inaccessibility and unique biological intricacies of human bone marrow has made it a daunting task to model and study its physiology in vitro," says Huh.
BONE MARROW HEMATOPOIESIS IMMUNE SYSTEM CANCER TREATMENT ORGAN-ON-A-CHIP
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