Research trends and hotspots in Adipose-Derived Stem Cell applications for peripheral nerve regeneration from 2000 to...

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) cause significant disability. Autologous nerve grafts remain the gold standard but are limited by donor-site morbidity, restricted graft availability, and inconsistent functional recovery. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have emerged as promising adjuncts due to their accessibility and regenerative potential.

How has global research on ADSCs in peripheral nerve repair evolved, and what are the leading contributors, dominant themes, and emerging trends?

A bibliometric analysis was performed using the Web of Science Core Collection for studies published from January 2000 to September 2025. Predefined search terms for ADSCs and peripheral nerve repair were applied. VOSviewer (v1.6.20) and CiteSpace (v6.3.R1 Advanced) were used to build co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks and to assess thematic evolution.

The final dataset comprised 555 articles authored by 2750 researchers from 54 countries and 849 institutions, citing 16,466 references. Global output increased consistently after 2011, with a peak in 2019. When adjusted for population size, Switzerland showed the highest research intensity (3.22 publications per million inhabitants), followed by Sweden (1.81), Belgium (1.12), and Austria (1.11). Countries with the highest absolute output, including the United States (0.32) and China (0.12), demonstrated lower per capita contributions. Seminal work by Kingham and Coleman formed the conceptual basis for ADSC-mediated nerve regeneration. Keyword analysis revealed a shift from structural tissue engineering toward paracrine signaling, exosome-based strategies, and translational approaches.

ADSCs are central to regenerative strategies for PNIs. Despite strong preclinical evidence, clinical translation remains limited, highlighting the need for standardized protocols and robust clinical trials.