Bibliometric Analysis of the Lung Organoids: Trends, Hotspots, and Future Development

Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) culture models derived from selforganizing stem cells or progenitor cells, capable of recapitulating the cellular growth microenvironment and interactions within the human body to a certain extent. These models play significant roles in biomedical research, drug screening, and related fields. Research on lung organoids has provided insights into lung development and the cellular and molecular processes underlying diseases, while studies on their transplantation in animals hold promise as novel strategies for post-lung injury therapies. However, no bibliometric studies in the field of lung organoids have been published to date. Using data from the Web of Science Core Collection database, this study employs bibliometric analysis and visualization methods to systematically analyze and summarize the developmental trajectory, research directions, applications, and current research hotspots in lung organoid research. The investigation evaluates existing challenges and proposes future development strategies to facilitate its broader implementation in lung-related investigations.

This study encompassed literature on pulmonary organoids published between 2010 and 2024, employing Microsoft Excel 2021 for publication trend analysis, while utilizing CiteSpace and VOSviewer software for bibliometric analysis to elucidate interrelationships among authors, institutions, and keywords associated with lung organoids. Citation, co-citation, and burst analysis methods were applied to evaluate research impact and advancements.

A total of 605 original articles were included in this analysis. The global research landscape shows participation from 50 countries in pulmonary organoid research, with the United States, China, and other nations accounting for the majority of research output. The five most influential authors were identified as Spence, Jason R.; Dye, Briana R.; Morrisey, Edward; Zhou, Su; and Miller, Alyssa J. Through keyword clustering analysis and timeline mapping, this study delineated the principal research domains and the temporal evolution of thematic focuses in lung organoid research. The research hotspots and overall trends across different phases were systematically characterized using literature co-citation burst detection and keyword burst analysis.

Currently, lung organoids are primarily used in the treatment of pulmonary diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and are increasingly pivotal in lung cancer research, particularly for elucidating lung cancer pathogenesis and conducting drug screening assays. The research focus on lung organoids has gradually shifted from investigations into culture mechanisms and pulmonary pathophysiological processes to studies involving regenerative medicine and translational medicine. These advancements are expected to emerge as novel clinical therapeutic modalities in the near future.