Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42136802›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in neurology2026

Hydrogel research in peripheral nerve injury repair: a comprehensive multi-database bibliometric analysis (2015-2025).

Wenju Bai, Xiaoyuan Huang, Jian Liu, Hao Yue, Yaofeng Hu, Jinyong Li, Xu Zhang, Jichao Wang

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wenju Bai *Department of Neurosurgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Xiaoyuan Huang *Department of Neurosurgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Jian LiuDepartment of Orthopedics, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Hao YueGraduate School of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Yaofeng HuGraduate School of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Jinyong LiXinjiang Second Medical College, Karamay, Xinjiang, China.
Xu ZhangXinjiang Second Medical College, Karamay, Xinjiang, China.
Jichao WangDepartment of Neurosurgery, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) represents a significant clinical challenge with limited therapeutic efficacy. Hydrogel scaffolds, which mimic the natural neural extracellular matrix, have emerged as promising biomaterials for nerve regeneration. However, clinical translation is constrained by material stability issues and insufficient integration with host biological systems. This bibliometric analysis aims to map the evolving research landscape and identify emerging trends to guide future therapeutic development. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), Scopus, PubMed from January 2015 to October 2025. Following deduplication and eligibility screening, 502 articles were included for bibliometric analysis. Publication trends, collaborative networks, and thematic evolution were analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, SCImago Graphica, and the R package bibliometrix. Results: The field demonstrated substantial growth over the decade, with publication volume increasing from 10 papers in 2015 to 80 in 2023. China dominated research output (55.0% of publications), though studies from the United States and Canada achieved higher average citation impact. Five major research clusters were identified, with significant focus on conductive hydrogels and Schwann cell-mediated regeneration. Thematic analysis revealed a paradigm shift from material characterization to mechanism-driven research, highlighting emerging interests in macrophage immunomodulation, angiogenesis, and nanofiber applications. Co-citation analysis indicated growing attention toward functionalized nerve guidance conduits and 3D/4D bioprinting technologies. Conclusion: Hydrogel-based PNI repair research has matured from basic scaffold development to integrated platforms combining electrical conductivity, advanced fabrication, and neural guidance engineering. Future priorities should emphasize stimuli-responsive "smart" hydrogel systems, pro-angiogenic strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate clinical translation.

Indexed as

3D bioprintingangiogenesisbibliometric analysisconductive hydrogelhydrogelnerve guidance conduitperipheral nerve injurySchwann cells

Identifiers

PMID42136802
PMCPMC13167558

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.