Research hotspots and evolution trends of human amniotic fluid stem cells

Objective: To systematically review the research hotspots, knowledge structure, and evolution trends in the field of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs). Methods: A bibliometric approach was employed using CiteSpace 6.2.R4 software, with the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC, 2006–2026, including 601 original research papers) and PubMed (1984–2024, including 960 publications) as data sources. Standardized, reproducible search strategies (including synonyms, abbreviations, MeSH terms, and Boolean operators) were developed for each database, and literature screening followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Using the WoSCC dataset as the core, we generated comprehensive visualizations covering author collaboration networks, countries, institutions, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, timelines, time zones, and emerging terms; the PubMed data were used for comparison of long-term publication trends. Results: The global publication volume in the field of hAFSCs has shown an overall upward trend, which can be divided into 3 phases: exploratory inception (1984–2006), rapid growth (2007–2013), and stable deepening (2014 to present). The United States (177 articles) and Italy (132 articles) form the dual engines of international collaboration, while China ranks third in publication volume (75 articles) but exhibits relatively weak international collaboration (centrality 0.02). The evolution of research themes is clear: from 2006 to 2009, the focus was on cell isolation, characterization, and in vitro culture; from 2010 to 2015, the scope expanded to multipotent differentiation, animal models, and the treatment of fetal diseases; and since 2018, exosomes/extracellular vesicles have emerged as the most active frontier with the highest emergence intensity (7.37). Conclusion: Bibliometric analysis indicates that research on hAFSCs has evolved from basic biological characterization into a comprehensive field encompassing multipotent differentiation, tissue engineering, and exosome regulation. Exosomes/extracellular vesicles and targeted repair of organ damage are currently the primary areas of focus. This study is a descriptive analysis; all conclusions are based on publication trend statistics and do not involve validation of clinical translational efficacy.