The research status and trends of engineered exosomes: a bibliometric analysis of the literature from web of science core collection

BACKGROUND: In recent years, engineered exosomes have addressed the limitations of natural exosomes and gradually emerged as a new research hotspot. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis can reveal research trends and hotspots in this field, which is crucial for guiding future development. METHODS: Publications on engineered exosomes (2004-2024) were downloaded from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The visualization of authors, institutions, countries, co-cited references and keywords was achieved through CiteSpace and VOSviewer. RESULTS: Analysis included 713 articles (citing 37,173 references) from 288 journals, involving 4,377 authors from 2,512 institutions across 184 countries/regions. Global publications show an upward trend. China and the United States (U.S.) dominate. Shanghai Jiao Tong University is the leading institution. Dr Federico Maurizio leads the application of engineered exosomes in cancer therapy. Keyword and co-citation analysis identified drug delivery systems, targeted engineered exosomes, and immunotherapy as core research domains. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis overviews the research status and development trends of engineered exosomes, revealing that new drug delivery platforms and immunological engineered exosomes are frontier focuses in the context of interdisciplinary collaboration.