{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T13:13:27Z","timestamp":1789391607222,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,15]],"date-time":"2025-11-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763164800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Fondo Estatal de Ciencia, Tecnolog\u00eda e Innovaci\u00f3n","award":["FECTI\/2024\/CV-CDF\/021"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FECTI\/2024\/CV-CDF\/021"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biomimetics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Developing reliable and cost-effective decellularization methods is critical for advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, particularly in regions with limited access to specialized perfusion systems. Methods: This study standardized a gravity-assisted perfusion protocol for rat liver decellularization, designed to operate without pumps or pressurized equipment. Adult Wistar rat livers were processed through a gravity-driven vascular flushing method and compared with a conventional immersion-based protocol. The resulting scaffolds were evaluated by macroscopic inspection, histological staining (Masson\u2019s trichrome), and residual DNA quantification. Results: The gravity-assisted perfusion method achieved more efficient cellular removal and superior preservation of extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity compared with immersion. Residual DNA levels were 3.7 ng\/mg in perfused samples, 209.47 ng\/mg in immersed samples, and 331.97 ng\/mg in controls, confirming a statistically significant reduction (p &lt; 0.05). Only the perfused group met the accepted threshold for effective decellularization (&lt;50 ng\/mg dry tissue). Histological analysis corroborated these findings, showing the absence of nuclei and the preservation of collagen architecture characteristic of a structurally intact ECM. Conclusions: This low-cost, reproducible, and technically simple system enables the generation of high-quality acellular hepatic scaffolds without mechanical pumps. Its accessibility and scalability make it suitable for laboratories with limited infrastructure and educational settings. Moreover, this gravity-assisted approach provides a foundation for future recellularization and preclinical studies aimed at developing bioengineered liver constructs for regenerative and transplant applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/biomimetics10110777","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,19]],"date-time":"2025-11-19T11:17:27Z","timestamp":1763551047000},"page":"777","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Development of Acellular Hepatic Scaffolds Through a Low-Cost Gravity-Assisted Perfusion Decellularization Method"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Mar\u00eda Fernanda","family":"Duarte-Ortega","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biom\u00e9dicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31109, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luis Bernardo","family":"Enr\u00edquez-S\u00e1nchez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biom\u00e9dicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31109, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2729-1579","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel David","family":"P\u00e9rez-Ruiz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biom\u00e9dicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31109, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-9600-1694","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alfredo","family":"Nev\u00e1rez-Rasc\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Odontolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31110, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mar\u00eda Alejandra","family":"Favila-P\u00e9rez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biom\u00e9dicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31109, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alva Roc\u00edo","family":"Castillo-Gonz\u00e1lez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biom\u00e9dicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31109, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Celia Mar\u00eda","family":"Qui\u00f1onez-Flores","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biom\u00e9dicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31109, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-4229-5140","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luis Carlos","family":"Hinojos-Gallardo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Direcci\u00f3n de Investigaci\u00f3n y Posgrado, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31203, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"V\u00edctor Adolfo","family":"R\u00edos-Barrera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Odontolog\u00eda, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31110, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5673-5992","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Arzate-Quintana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biom\u00e9dicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31109, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"262","DOI":"10.3390\/cimb46010018","article-title":"Recent Advances in Liver Tissue Engineering as an Alternative and Complementary Approach for Liver Transplantation","volume":"46","author":"Nair","year":"2023","journal-title":"Curr. 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