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Abstract
Despite significant advances in the fabrication of bioengineered scaffolds for tissue engineering, delivery of nutrients
in complex engineered human tissues remains a challenge. By taking advantage of the similarities in the vascular structure
of plant and animal tissues, we developed decellularized plant tissue as a prevascularized scaffold for tissue engineering
applications. Perfusion-based decellularization was modified for different plant species, providing different geometries of
scaffolding. After decellularization, plant scaffolds remained patent and able to transport microparticles. Plant scaffolds
were recellularized with human endothelial cells that colonized the inner surfaces of plant vasculature. Human mesenchymal
stem cells and human pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes adhered to the outer surfaces of plant scaffolds. Cardiomyocytes
demonstrated contractile function and calcium handling capabilities over the course of 21 days. These data demonstrate the
potential of decellularized plants as scaffolds for tissue engineering, which could ultimately provide a cost-efficient,
“green” technology for regenerating large volume vascularized tissue mass.
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http://www.sciencedi...142961217300856