Global research trends in artificial kidneys (2014-2024): A bibliometric and visualization study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nephrology
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Kidney transplantation is the standard treatment for end-stage kidney disease but faces donor organ scarcity.
• Artificial kidneys offer a promising alternative to alleviate donor limitations and improve patient access to renal replacement therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of global artificial kidney research from 2014-2024.
• To identify developmental trends, technological hotspots, and future research directions in artificial kidney development.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of publications.
• Trend analysis of research output.
• Identification of key research areas and collaborations.

Main Results:

• Significant growth in artificial kidney publications over the past decade.
• Emerging research hotspots include AI in kidney disease prediction, implantable/wearable artificial kidneys, bioartificial kidneys, and tissue engineering.
• Increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between medicine, engineering, and artificial intelligence.

Conclusions:

• Artificial kidney technology is advancing towards greater intelligence and integration with biological and tissue-engineering approaches.
• Progress in immunomodulatory materials and biosensing is crucial for developing artificial kidneys comparable to transplantation.
• This research provides a roadmap for future development and cross-disciplinary collaboration to realize an ideal artificial kidney.