Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered bibliometric analysis of global trends in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived exosome research: 2014-2023

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, significant progress has been made in regenerative medicine, specifically in using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) due to their regenerative and differentiating abilities. An exciting development in this area is the utilization of exosomes derived from MSCs, which have shown promise in tissue restoration, immune system modulation, and cancer treatment.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze global research trends and the academic impact of MSCs-derived exosomes from 2014 to 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of this emerging field.

Materials and methods: The Web of Science database selected 948 relevant publications from 2014 to 2023. Artificial intelligence (AI)-bibliometric tools, including Bibliometrix, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer, were employed to analyze and visualize the data. The focus was on publication quantity, research nations, institutional partnerships, keywords, and research focal points.

Results: The study revealed that China, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States are the leaders in publication volume and impact in MSCs-derived exosome research. China has the highest number of publications, while the United States and Iran excel in research quality and influence. Primary research themes were identified through keyword and clustering analyses, including tissue repair, immune modulation, bone regeneration, and cancer treatment. The study also emphasized the importance of international collaboration, with China and the United States demonstrating the most robust cooperation.

Conclusion: MSCs-derived exosome research rapidly expands worldwide, showing promising prospects in regenerative medicine and cell therapy. With continued research and international collaboration, MSCs-derived exosomes are expected to play a vital role in future therapeutic application.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence (AI)-bibliometric tools; CiteSpace; Exosomes; Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); VOSviewer; Web of Science.

Fig. 1

AI-Bibliometrics and network analysis of MSCs and exosome research using AI and visualization tools. The diagram presents a systematic process for constructing a publications database and leveraging visual analytics to examine research patterns in the MSCs and exosome fields.

Fig. 2

Annual trend in publications and citations on MSCs and exosome research. (A) The growth in published articles from 2014 to 2023, with a significant uptick observed starting in 2018 and reaching its highest point during the 2021–2023 period; (B) The associated rise in citations demonstrates a notable uptick in 2021, 2022, and 2023, suggesting an expanding influence and interest in the research domain focusing on MSCs and exosomes.

Fig. 3

Global distribution of publications on MSCs and exosome research. The global map illustrates the spatial distribution of research publications on MSCs and exosomes. Regions depicted in the darkest shades, such as China, indicate the highest concentration of published studies. Countries in lighter hues represent areas with moderate research output in this field. Gray areas denote regions with minimal or no published research on the topic.

Fig. 4

Publication trends in MSCs and exosome research in leading countries. The diagram illustrates publication trends, contrasting global patterns with major contributing nations, including China, Iran, the United States, South Korea, and Egypt. The international publication tally, represented by the red line, shows a dramatic upswing beginning in 2018, reaching its peak around 2021. The blue line represents China, which leads to publication volume showing a noticeable increase from 2018 and maintaining strong output through 2023. Other countries, such as Iran (orange line), the United States (purple line), and South Korea (pink line), have displayed modest but consistent contributions, with slight upward trajectories in recent years.

Fig. 5

International collaboration network on MSCs and exosome research. The VOSviewer network visualization illustrates the collaborative connections among nations in MSCs and exosome studies. The largest node represents China, highlighting its significant partnerships with Iran, the United States, and Italy. Line thickness indicates the strength of cooperation, while the color gradient from blue to yellow reflects increasing collaboration intensity from 2019 to 2021.

Fig. 6

Heatmap of international research activities on MSCs and exosomes. The image illustrates a heatmap illustrating the concentration of scientific output in MSCs and exosome studies globally. Warmer hues, such as yellow, indicate higher productivity, with China leading the field. Countries like the United States, Iran, and Germany demonstrate moderate research activity, while cooler blue regions represent areas with lower output.

Fig. 7

Institutional collaboration network in MSCs and exosome research. The VOSviewer image illustrates the collaborative relationships between Chinese academic and research organizations involved in studies on MSCs and exosomes. Key institutions, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, and Peking Union Medical College, hold prominent positions within the network with solid partnerships indicated by inter-connecting lines. The color spectrum from blue to yellow represents the timeline of collaborations, with recent partnerships shown in yellow.

Fig. 8

Heatmap of institutional research activities on MSCs and exosome research. The image displays a heatmap illustrating the concentration of research efforts on MSCs and exosomes across various Chinese academic institutions. The brighter yellow areas signify universities with greater research output, with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, and Peking Union Medical College emerging as prominent contributors. Cooler blue tones indicate institutions with lower activity.

Fig. 9

Co-citation network of journals on MSCs and exosome research. The VOSviewer network visualization illustrates the co-citation patterns among journals in the MSCs and exosome research domains. The size of each node corresponds to the journal’s citation count, whereas the connecting lines indicate the strength of the co-citation relationships. Prominent journals, such as Stem Cell Research & Therapy, Stem Cells International, and Life Sciences, have emerged as pivotal nodes in the network, highlighting their substantial impact in this research area. The visualization uses various colors to denote clusters of journals that frequently reference one another.

Fig. 10

Heatmap of journal co-citation intensity in MSCs and exosome research. The image displays a heatmap illustrating the strength of journal co-citation connections in MSCS and exosome studies. Warmer hues (yellow) represent journals with higher co-citation frequencies, with Stem Cell Research & Therapy, Stem Cells International, and Life Sciences exhibiting the most intense relationships. Cooler blue shades signify lower co-citation levels.

Fig. 11

Keyword co-occurrence network in MSCs and exosome research. The VOSviewer network visualization illustrates the co-occurrence of keywords in research related to MSCs and exosomes. Node size correlates with keyword frequency, whereas inter-node connections represent the co-occurrence of keywords in the studies. The network’s core consists of prominent terms, such as extracellular vesicles, inflammation, proliferation, angiogenesis, and repair, highlighting their significance in this field of study. Distinct color-coded clusters represent thematically linked groups of frequently co-occurring keywords.

Fig. 12

Thematic clusters in MSCs and exosome research. CiteSpace visualization illustrates the primary research themes in MSCs and exosomes over time, represented by intersecting regions. Significant research areas have been identified, including MSCs, gastric cancer, osteoarthritis, myocardial infarction, wound healing, recovery, and autoimmune diseases. The color gradient, ranging from purple (2016) to yellow (2023), reflects the chronological progression of research focus.

Fig. 13

Emerging keywords in MSCs and exosome research. This figure presents emerging keywords, their burst strength (indicating growing importance), the start year of the trend, and its duration (shown by red bars). Topics such as neurovascular plasticity (2016–2020), angiogenesis (2016–2018), and heart research (2017–2018) have gained attention over time. Recent trends, including “resistance” (2021–2023) and “gastric cancer” (2021–2023), suggest he ongoing expansion of research in these fields.