Glycerol-plasticized silk fibroin vascular grafts mimic key mechanical properties of native blood vessels.

Cardiovascular diseases are a major global health challenge. Blood vessel disease and dysfunction are major contributors to this healthcare burden, and the development of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) is required, particularly for the replacement of small-diameter vessels. Silk fibroin (SF) is a widely used biomaterial for TEVG fabrication due to its high strength and biocompatibility.