Gold nanoparticles and breast cancer: A bibliometric analysis of the current state of research and future directions

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are widely searched for their usage in breast cancer research because of their unique features. For example, these particles can deliver drugs to specific sites, making imaging and photothermal therapy possible, thus rendering them suitable particles for theranostic purposes. Bibliometric research is a statistical analytical technique useful for the data systematically found in the literature. In this bibliometric study, the global research output regarding GNPs in breast cancer (BC) research was analyzed, mapped, and evaluated using bibliometric indicators.

All documents related to the application of GNPs applications in BC research that were published in English-language, peer-reviewed journals over the past 20 years were retrieved from the Scopus database. Bibliometric indicators were extracted using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny. Thematic maps, conceptual maps, and visualization graphs were created.

A total of 2035 published documents were retrieved. Chinese authors were the most active, having published approximately 27.5% of the total documents, while researchers from the United States (USA) had the most significant scientific impact. The study revealed weak international collaboration in this research area. Keywords mapping identified the main research themes and hotspots in this research field. Multimodal approaches in cancer treatment and diagnostics, targeted and effective cancer treatment, aptamers and biosensors, and green synthesis of GNPs were the four clusters retrieved from theme and hotspot analyses. This study analyzed and mapped the expanding field of GNPs in breast cancer research (GNP-BCR) and identified various applications of GNPs in this field. GNPs were used as drug delivery systems to target specific cancer cells and improve anticancer drug bioavailability. Different treatment and diagnostic modalities were revealed, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). Moreover, the development of aptamer-based biosensors using gold nanoparticles was identified as a niche theme in this research, while the green synthesis of GNPs emerged as a new and promising theme. However, clinical research is still warranted to translate this fundamental knowledge into practical and human-useable formulas.