Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (15): 2385-2393.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.3818

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Knowledge mapping of three-dimensional printing in biomedical field based on VOSviewer

Song Yahan1, Wu Yunxia2, Fan Daoyang2   

  1. 1Library, 2Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
  • Received:2020-06-15 Revised:2020-06-19 Accepted:2020-07-23 Online:2021-05-28 Published:2021-01-05
  • Contact: Song Yahan, Library, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
  • About author:Song Yahan, Master, Library, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is widely used in various fields, and its application in the medical field is also increasing, which provides a new direction for the development of medical research.   
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the literature of 3D printing in biomedical field in recent 5 years, and illustrate the current research status, hot spots and development trends by using knowledge mapping analysis. 
METHODS: PubMed database was retrieved for related literature on 3D printing in biomedical field published from 2015 to 2020, and the citation relationship between articles was obtained from the core collection of web of science by PMID. The tool of bibliometrics and VOSviewer were used to analyze the author, organization, country and key words, and draw knowledge mapping. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A total of 3 471 articles were included. A trend toward an increasing number of publications in recent 5 years was evident. According to the index trend line, the number of papers will keep growing. In the future, the research of 3D printing in biomedical field will continue to attract the attention of researchers. (2) Among the 22 core journals identified, the percent of journals with JCR Q ≥ 2 was 81.8%, and the quality of journals was high. (3) According to the keyword co-occurrence clustering results, the current research was divided into four categories: clinical application, tissue engineering scaffold, application in the field of pharmaceutical preparations, and 3D bioprinting. (4) VOSviewer knowledge mapping analysis showed that the selection of biomedical 3D printing tissue scaffold materials and scaffold microstructure design were the focus and hotspot in recent years and the basis of expanding clinical application of tissue engineering. (5) It was a trend from single to multiple composite materials in scaffold materials. The 3D microstructure of scaffolds, including porosity, pore size and interconnected pore structure, played a key role in enhancing cell viability and promoting tissue growth. (6) The preparation of bioink with cell activity was the focus of 3D bioprinting research, including the properties of biomaterial scaffolds, such as hydrogel, alginate and extracellular matrix, cross-linking and stiffness of scaffolds, and stem cell printing. (7) In the application of 3D printing pharmaceutical preparations, the personalized setting of drug delivery system is realized through the hotspot research, such as drug preparation printing technology, polymer, nanoparticles, and microfluidic chip. 

Key words: biomaterial, 3D printing, knowledge mapping, bibliometrics, co-occurrence, tissue engineering, bioink

CLC Number: