BMES 2025 Annual Conference Poster (Co-author)

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and results in an estimated $1.8 trillion in healthcare costs each year. Approximately 20% of patients lack a suitable saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass surgery, requiring use of small-diameter (< 6 mm) vascular grafts made from synthetic or natural materials. However, synthetic grafts often fail due to thrombosis and poor patency.

Decellularized plant scaffolds offer a scalable, low-cost alternative due to their biocompatibility and structural similarity to native vessels. We hypothesize that optimized and preconditioned plant-derived grafts can support endothelialization, maintain mechanical stability, and reduce thrombosis, making them suitable for vascular implantation.

In this study, we optimized leatherleaf viburnum scaffolds for endothelial cell compatibility, mechanical strength, and minimal permeability. These grafts were then preconditioned with physiological pressure and flow in a custom-built bioreactor and evaluated in vitro and in vivo.