Platelet-rich plasma for diabetic foot ulcer: A bibliometric analysis and knowledge graph mapping

BACKGROUND Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are among the most serious chronic complications of diabetes.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has shown promise in promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration, and research interest in its application to DFUs has increased steadily in recent years.AIM To provide a bibliometric overview of the research landscape and evolving trends in the use of PRP for DFUs.METHODS A total of 314 publications on PRP and DFUs indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between 2006 and 2025 were analyzed.CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny were used to examine publication trends, collaborative networks, cocitation patterns, keyword clusters, and citation bursts.RESULTS Research activity increased markedly over the study period, with an annual growth rate of 24.77%.The United States and China were the largest contributors.Cocitation and keyword analyses indicated that the published literature shifted from early clinical feasibility and evidence synthesis toward mechanism-oriented and biomaterial-related themes."Platelet-rich plasma" and "wound healing" were persistent high-frequency keywords, whereas macrophage polarization, hydrogel/hyaluronic acid biomaterials, and exosomes were recent burst keywords.These bibliometric patterns describe evolving research attention and knowledge structure; they do not establish clinical efficacy or mechanisms of action.CONCLUSION 4 / 38 This bibliometric analysis outlines publication trends and shifting research themes in PRP research for DFUs.The findings may inform future research design and translation, but they do not establish clinical efficacy, mechanisms of action, or guideline/policy recommendations.