Bibliometric Insights into Hydrogel Technology For Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing (2001-2024)

This study establishes a bibliometric and visualization-based protocol to systematically evaluate the research landscape, thematic evolution, and collaboration networks of hydrogel technologies for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing from 2001 to 2024. Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, and analyses were conducted using Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace to examine publication trends, citation performance, and research frontiers. A total of 403 publications from 48 countries were included, with China, the United States, and India as leading contributors. The results show an exponential rise in research output over the past two decades, reflecting growing interdisciplinary interest in advanced hydrogel systems. Research hotspots have evolved from early studies on hydrogel biocompatibility and moisture retention to innovations such as macrophage polarization, angiogenesis-neurogenesis crosstalk, antimicrobial and smart hydrogels, and green synthesis strategies. Unlike previous narrative reviews, this study introduces a quantitative and visualization-based bibliometric framework that objectively maps global scientific evolution and reveals collaboration patterns and emerging research frontiers. The developed protocol provides a reproducible model for mapping scientific knowledge and guiding future translational and clinical applications in DFU management.