Bone-Nerve Crosstalk: A 2016-2026 Bibliometric Analysis With Experimental Insights

This study aimed to systematically map the research landscape, collaboration patterns, and emerging trends in bone-nerve crosstalk from 2016 to 2026.

A total of 4230 publications from the WoS were analyzed using CiteSpace and Bibliometrix. In vitro, Schwann cells were treated with BMDM conditioned medium, and neural marker expression was assessed. Ovariectomized mice were used to evaluate repair of Schwann cell markers in the sciatic nerve.

Annual publications rose steadily, peaking at 553 in 2025. China and the United States dominated productivity and citations. Early research focused on neural regeneration and stem cell transplantation, whereas recent burst keywords (3D bioprinting, hydrogels, extracellular vesicles, and tissue engineering) signaled a marked shift toward engineered regenerative platforms. Co-citation networks showed a foundation built on mesenchymal stem cell standards and peripheral nerve repair, and a transition toward biomaterial-enabled strategies. Experimentally, macrophage-conditioned medium upregulated neurogenic genes (NCAM and GAP43), increased TUBB3 protein expression, and induced an elongated Schwann cell morphology. In ovariectomized mice, both TUBB3 and MBP were elevated in the sciatic nerve, suggesting a repair-associated Schwann cell phenotype.

Bone-nerve crosstalk research has evolved into an interdisciplinary, application-oriented field, increasingly driven by smart biomaterials and controlled delivery.