Bibliometric analysis of research trends on nanotechnology applications in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading global health issue with limited traditional diagnostic and therapeutic precision. Nanomedicine, utilizing nanomaterials' unique properties, offers promising innovative solutions for atherosclerosis diagnosis and treatment. Studies focusing on nanotechnology and atherosclerosis were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Relevant articles were selected for inclusion in the study according to the inclusion criteria. Bibliometric analysis of the included publications was performed via VOSviewer, CiteSpace and Bibliometrix. A total of 2682 publications were included in this analysis. From 1999 to 2025, the global academic paper output exhibited a significant upward trend. China, Harvard University, and Scholar Mulder, Willem J M were the most productive country, institution, and author. The International Journal of Nanomedicine was the journal with the highest publication volume. The research on the application of nanotechnology in AS has evolved from investigating disease basic mechanisms to targeted drug delivery therapy and imaging technology, and now to the stage of multi-mechanism collaborative therapy. Future development trends focus on research into extracellular vesicles, biomimetic nanoparticles, and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3‌ (NLRP3) inflammasome. ‌Relevant research may accelerate cross-integration and provide useful directions for the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases. This bibliometric analysis summarizes the current application status and research hotspots of nanotechnology in atherosclerosis and identifies future application trends. These findings provide valuable insights into the utilization and development directions of nanotechnology in atherosclerosis.