Global trends and emerging research in nanotechnology for esophageal cancer: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Despite the growing body of research on nanotechnology for esophageal cancer (EC), a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in this field has yet to be conducted. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing global research trends, key contributors, and emerging themes in nanotechnology for EC.

A bibliometric analysis was performed on publications from 1980 to 2024, using data from the Web of Science Core Collection. The analysis was conducted using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package 'bibliometrix' to visualize research trends, collaboration networks, and thematic areas.

The analysis included 419 documents authored by 2952 researchers from 44 countries. A significant increase in publications was observed, particularly after 2011, with China, the United States, and Japan leading the contributions. Prominent institutions, including Zhengzhou University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, were identified as key players. The research predominantly focused on drug delivery systems, nanomedicine, and cancer treatment mechanisms, with emerging trends in the development of advanced nanomaterials for personalized therapies.

This comprehensive bibliometric analysis of nanotechnology applications in EC highlights global research trends, key contributors, and emerging research areas. The findings underscore the crucial role of nanotechnology in advancing treatment strategies for EC and identify areas for future research and interdisciplinary collaboration.