Mapping the evolving landscape of conductive hydrogels in medicine: A bibliometric perspective

Purpose: This bibliometric study, based on 1,030 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection through December 31, 2024, explores the evolving landscape of conductive hydrogels in medicine. Methods: This study uses tools like Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace to investigate the research hotspots, collaborative patterns, and developmental trends of conductive hydrogels in the medical field from 2015 to 2024, thereby offering novel insights for future research in this domain. Results: The analysis reveals a significant 38.04 % annual growth rate in publications since 2015. China leads in research output with 734 articles, followed by Korea. Key institutions, including Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan University, and Xi'an Jiaotong University, have been instrumental in driving this field forward. Research hotspots, centered on high-performance scaffolds, are expanding into two main areas: synergistic tissue regeneration and drug delivery, and flexible, wearable point-of-care diagnostics. A key trend is the shift in focus from the hydrogel's material and structure (support, conductivity) to its performance and function (integrated mechanics, sensing, and wearability). This highlights the multidisciplinary potential of conductive hydrogels. Despite China's high publication volume, the study emphasizes that it requires deeper fundamental research and stronger international collaborations. Conclusions: Future initiatives must emphasize the advancement of multifunctional hydrogel platforms, cultivate interdisciplinary collaborations integrating materials science, medicine, and engineering, and implement consistent preclinical assessment and regulatory frameworks. These strategic steps are crucial for moving hydrogel innovations from the lab to clinical applications, such as chronic wound healing, myocardial repair, and wearable diagnostics.