Scientific trends in 3D bioprinting of bioactive glass-alginate composites for bone regeneration: a bibliometric study

Resumo

The rapid development of additive manufacturing technologies has expanded the possibilities for designing advanced biomaterials for bone tissue repair. In this context, hydrogel-based systems reinforced with bioactive ceramics have attracted increasing attention due to their ability to combine structural support with biological functionality. This study presents a Scopus-based bibliometric analysis of scientific literature addressing composite biomaterials based on alginate and bioactive glass applied in 3D printing strategies for bone tissue engineering. Bibliographic records were retrieved from the Scopus database using a structured Boolean search strategy and filtered according to predefined eligibility criteria, resulting in a dataset of 98 peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2026. The analysis examined the temporal evolution of scientific production, geographical distribution of publications, most frequent keywords, expanded keyword co-occurrence networks, and citation performance of the most influential studies. The results indicate a consistent growth in scientific output, reflecting the consolidation of this interdisciplinary research field. China and Iran emerged as the leading contributors to global scientific production, while other countries, including Portugal, South Korea, and Brazil, also demonstrated relevant participation in the research landscape. Citation analysis revealed that recent studies predominantly focus on hybrid material systems combining natural polymers with inorganic phases or functional nanomaterials to improve mechanical stability and biological performance. Overall, the findings highlight a transition toward multifunctional biomaterial platforms designed to enhance bone regeneration.