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Growing Relevance of Decellularized Plant Material as Functional Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering and Cultured Meat: A Scoping Review on Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions.

Annals of biomedical engineering · 13 July 2026 · DOI 10.1007/s10439-026-04263-x

Decellularized plant tissues as scaffolds for regenerative medicine and cultivated meat were mapped in a scoping review. The authors examined materials from leaves, stems, fruits and vegetables, covering preparation and decellularization methods, chemical and structural changes, and biocompatibility tests in laboratory and animal settings. The review found that plant structures provide varied anatomy, mechanics and vascular networks that can imitate extracellular matrix and support tissue-specific uses. It also identifies translation challenges and research priorities for healthcare and food applications.

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