Development trends and translational opportunities in self-assembled herbal bioactive materials research

This first bibliometric analysis of SAHBMs delineates global trajectories, intellectual anchors, and emerging frontiers. Challenges remain in stability, biokinetics, and the generation of evidence needed for further preclinical development. Future progress will depend on artificial intelligence-assisted molecular design, advanced preclinical modeling, and strengthened global collaboration. Bibliometric trends suggest that SAHBMs is evolving as a nanomaterials-oriented research field, with increasing attention to self-assembled nanostructures, self-assembly mechanisms, and functional biomedical applications such as carrier-free drug delivery and regenerative medicine.