Bibliometric analysis of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Objective: This study adopts bibliometric and visualization analysis to systematically investigate the research hotspots and emerging trends in the treatment of osteoarthritis with mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles, and conducts a review of related research. Methods: We conducted a search in the WoSCC (Web of Science Core Collection) for literature related to MSC-EVs in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) from January 1, 2013, to July 23, 2025, . Subsequently, we employed specialized software such as CiteSpace 6.1.R4, bibliometrix, and VOSviewer for scientometric analysis and keyword mining of the data. Results: MSC-EVs treatment for OA is a research hotspot, and its intensity has been increasing in recent years. China, Italy, USA, and France are representative countries in this research field, with scholars such as De Girolamo, Laura making significant contributions to this area. IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, National University of Singapore, Universite de Montpellier, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University are representative institutions within the entire research network. Stem Cell Research & Therapy is the core journal in this research field. Research in this area has evolved from the early MSC-EVs treatment for OA pathogenesis to molecular mechanisms, cell therapy, tissue repair, and recent studies on the matrix and diagnostic methods. The treatment of OA with non-cellular orthopedic biological products such as hyaluronic acid will be an emerging research direction. Conclusion: MSC-EVs offer a promising strategy for OA treatment, regulating intra-articular inflammation and repair processes through multiple molecular mechanisms, demonstrating unique advantages. Future research should focus on optimizing EVs preparation and administration protocols, further investigating therapeutic mechanisms, and promoting clinical applications through multidisciplinary technological integration.