Bibliometric and visualized analysis of 3D printing in cartilage repair and regeneration

As an advanced manufacturing technology, three-dimensional (3D) printing demonstrates broad potential for material processing in the fields of biofabrication and tissue engineering. Among its applications, the repair and regeneration of cartilage defects continues to pose a critical clinical challenge, urgently requiring implants that possess mechanical strength, appropriate porosity, and excellent biological performance. 3D printing offers a viable approach to meet such requirements. Based on the rapid advancements in this technology over the past decade, conducting a bibliometric analysis of its application in cartilage tissue engineering is imperative to gain in-depth insights into the current research landscape and development trends. To achieve this, the present study employed bibliometric methods to systematically analyze the application of 3D printing in cartilage repair and regeneration. Using predefined search strategies, data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analysis tools, CiteSpace and VOSviewer, were utilized, resulting in the inclusion of 860 publications. Findings demonstrated a consistent growth trend in the annual publication volume and relative research interest concerning the use of 3D printing in cartilage repair and regeneration globally. China holded a leading role in international collaborations within this field and was also the country with the highest number of citations. Biofabrication was the journal publishing the highest number of articles in this domain. Kelly DJ standed out as the most prolific author contributing to the qualifying studies. The most prevalent keywords in the publications were predominantly clustered within the domains of biofabrication and tissue engineering, including "3D printing technologies", "bioinks", "cartilage regeneration" and "osteoarthritis treatment", all closely related to cartilage repair and regeneration. Through bibliometric analysis, we delineated the 2014-2024 technological progression of 3D printing for cartilage regeneration. It aids researchers in deepening their understanding of this dynamic field and lays the groundwork for future investigations.