Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40415662›Full record

ReviewHistology and histopathology2025

Engineering vascular grafts from decellularized plants: Advances and challenges.

Nick Merna

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Histology and histopathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

Nick MernaFred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Hofstra University, New York, USA. Nicholas.J.Merna@hofstra.edu.

Funding

Tissue Engineering Plant-based Vascular Grafts IIR15EB033168 · NIBIB · HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY · PI MERNA, NICHOLAS J. · 2022 to 2025
$888k
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health R15EB033168NIBIB NIH HHS R15 EB033168
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Small-caliber vascular grafts (<6 mm diameter) are critical for coronary and peripheral bypass surgeries, yet developing functional substitutes remains challenging. Autologous vessels are ideal but often unavailable or of poor quality. Synthetic grafts, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and Dacron, have high failure rates at small diameters due to thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, and compliance mismatch. Tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) aim to overcome these issues by providing a biocompatible scaffold with an endothelial lining. Decellularized plant tissues have recently gained attention as natural scaffolds for TEVGs due to their structural similarity to human vasculature. Leaves and stems provide an extracellular matrix (ECM) primarily composed of cellulose, which is biocompatible, porous, and non-thrombogenic. These scaffolds are cost-effective, scalable, and ethically uncontroversial. Decellularized parsley stems or leatherleaf leaves, for instance, can be recellularized with endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to create small-diameter grafts that support endothelialization and withstand physiological pressures. Perfusion bioreactors further enhance the functionality of plant-based grafts by simulating physiological conditions. Pulsatile flow and pressure stimulate endothelial cell alignment, reducing thrombogenicity, while mechanical stimulation promotes SMC maturation and ECM deposition, improving graft strength and compliance. This review summarizes recent advances in plant-based vascular grafts and perfusion bioreactor conditioning, compares their performance to conventional grafts, and highlights remaining challenges. Decellularized plant scaffolds, with their inherent vascular architecture and biocompatibility, show promise as natural templates for small-caliber vascular grafts. However, further research is needed to address key challenges such as standardization, mechanical optimization, and long-term

Indexed as

Blood Vessel ProsthesisPlantsTissue EngineeringTissue ScaffoldsAnimalsHumans

Identifiers

PMID40415662
PMCPMC12344396

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.