The Intellectual Landscape of Nanovaccines: A Bibliometric Perspective on Scientific Progress and Future Directions

Abstract

This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive analysis of the burgeoning field of nanovaccine research, leveraging data sourced from Scopus and employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart for the meticulous screening, inclusion, and exclusion of relevant studies. Utilizing sophisticated bibliometric tools, such as Biblioshiny and CiteSpace, we dissected the expansive literature to unearth critical insights into the annual scientific output, identifying key contributors and pivotal publications that have shaped the domain. The analysis delineates the most influential authors, sources, and globally cited documents, offering a macroscopic view of the field's intellectual structure and growth trajectory. Trend topics and thematic mapping underscored the evolution of research foci, from fundamental immunological mechanisms to cutting-edge nanomaterial applications. Factorial analysis and keyword co-occurrence networks revealed the intricate associations and thematic concentrations within the literature. The study's robust methodology also pinpointed the keywords exhibiting the strongest citation bursts, signifying emergent areas of intense academic interest. Networks of cited authors illuminated collaborative patterns among scholars, while timeline network visualizations of country collaborations depicted the global interplay in nanovaccine development. Crucially, this study identified notable research gaps and practical implications, suggesting directions for future investigation and highlighting the translational potential of nanovaccines in public health and personalized medicine. This bibliometric investigation not only maps the current landscape but also charts a course for the trajectory of nanovaccine research, emphasizing its role as a cornerstone of innovative immunotherapeutic strategies.

Keywords: biblimetric analysis; biblioshiny; citespace; nano vaccine; nano-vaccine; nanovaccine.

Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram used to identify, screen, and include papers in the bibliometric analysis

PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses

Figure 2. Yearly production of scientific articles from 2004 to 2024

Figure 3. Network visualization of co-citation of authors

Figure 4. Timeline network visualization of countries’ collaborations

Figure 5. A visual indicating the popularity of topics

Figure 6. Thematic representation of keywords

Figure 7. Conceptual structure map using multiple correspondence analysis

Figure 8. Co-occurrence network map of all keywords

Figure 9. Keywords with strongest citation bursts