Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel, as an Ion Channel in Therapeutics: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Trends (1984-2023)

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) play a critical role in generating and propagating electrical signals in excitable cells. To date, the technology has gained much attention for its therapeutic potential in treating various diseases, including cancer. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of VGSC research trends over 40 years (1984-2023) using the Scopus database. A total of 3,170 articles were analysed to explore publication productivity, authorship, key research topics, and collaboration patterns. The analysis identified the leading countries according to the number of articles contributed and determined that the USA, China, and Germany were the most productive. In fact, the USA alone accounts for 41.6% of global VGSC research on therapeutics. Additionally, based on the number of published articles, institutions such as Harvard Medical School and the University of Cambridge were found to be at the forefront of this field. Overall, the performed research focused on the therapeutic applications of VGSCs in conditions like atrial fibrillation, chronic pain, cancer, and genetic diseases. The study also highlights a growing interest in VGSC-related research in the past decade as a result of the advancements in molecular techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). These findings suggest that VGSCs will remain a central point in therapeutic research for years to come, with a greater interest in international collaboration to drive further progress.