Global hotspots and emerging trends in 3D bioprinting research

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is an advanced tissue engineering technique that has received a lot of interest in the past years. We aimed to highlight the characteristics of articles on 3D bioprinting, especially in terms of research hotspots and focus. Publications related to 3D bioprinting from 2007 to 2022 were acquired from the Web of Science Core Collection database. We have used VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R-bibliometrix to perform various analyses on 3,327 published articles. The number of annual publications is increasing globally, a trend expected to continue. The United States and China were the most productive countries with the closest cooperation and the most research and development investment funds in this field. Harvard Medical School and Tsinghua University are the top-ranked institutions in the United States and China, respectively. Dr. Anthony Atala and Dr. Ali Khademhosseini, the most productive researchers in 3D bioprinting, may provide cooperation opportunities for interested researchers. Tissue Engineering Part A contributed the largest publication number, while Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology was the most attractive journal with the most potential. As for the keywords in 3D bioprinting, Bio-ink, Hydrogels (especially GelMA and Gelatin), Scaffold (especially decellularized extracellular matrix), extrusion-based bioprinting, tissue engineering, and in vitro models (organoids particularly) are research hotspots analyzed in the current study. Specifically, the research topics “new bio-ink investigation,” “modification of extrusion-based bioprinting for cell viability and vascularization,” “application of 3D bioprinting in organoids and in vitro model” and “research in personalized and regenerative medicine” were predicted to be hotspots for future research.

Bibliometric analysis of global research on human organoids

“…In recent years, there has been a gradual emergence of bibliometric studies related to organoids [ [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] ]. Compared to this study, these studies have a more concentrated focus.…”

GelMA synthesis and sources comparison for 3D multimaterial bioprinting

“…3D cell culture-based research experienced an exponential growth in the last 30 years ( Jensen and Teng, 2020 ; Ding et al, 2023 ). One of the most advanced techniques to produce 3D cell cultures is 3D bioprinting, a rapidly rising technology, that allows researchers to recreate in vitro models and engineered tissues for a plethora of applications, ranging from regenerative medicine, 3D organ bioprinting for transplantation, high-throughput screening of drug and toxicology screening ( Bejoy et al, 2021 ).…”

Use of high-performance polymeric materials in customized low-cost robotic grippers for biomechatronic applications: experimental and analytical research

“…In recent years, the field of bioengineering has undergone a remarkable transformation, driven by technological advancements in materials science and manufacturing methods (Xiaohu, 2020;Salmi, 2021;Hornyák et al, 2023). The advent of 3D printing technologies has ushered in a new era of innovation in bioengineering (Ding et al, 2023). This category of technology allows for the precise, layer-by-layer fabrication of complex structures, providing unprecedented levels of design flexibility and customization (Chaudhry and Czekanski, 2020;Gawade et al, 2022;Tofail et al, 2018].…”