Translational Perspectives in Bone Regeneration: A 25-Year Bibliometric Comparison of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies on Hydroxyapatite
摘要
This bibliometric study provides a 25-year comparative evaluation (2000–May 2025) of in vitro and in vivo hydroxyapatite (HA)-based bone regeneration research indexed in Scopus database. A total of 2409 in vitro and 1959 in vivo publications were retrieved and analyzed using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny. In vitro studies demonstrated a higher publication volume and slightly greater annual growth rate (14.34%) than in vivo studies (13.86%). However, in vivo research showed marginally higher average citations per document (35.5 vs. 34.92), a greater number of co-authors per publication, and slightly higher international collaboration rates, suggesting broader global engagement in in vivo studies. China led the publication output in both domains, while the United States, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom maintained a strong influence, particularly in vivo research. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed a thematic evolution from early material synthesis to integrative approaches combining advanced fabrication technologies, such as three-dimensional printing, with biological performance evaluation. Collaboration networks indicated extensive international partnerships in in vitro research, whereas in vivo collaborations appeared more concentrated among leading research countries. These bibliometric patterns highlight the complementary roles of in vitro mechanistic investigations and in vivo preclinical validation in HA-based bone regeneration research. While publication trends and collaboration structures may reflect differing levels of translational emphasis, bibliometric indicators serve as indirect proxies rather than direct measures of clinical implementation. Continued interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological integration may support more clinically oriented research in this field.