Global research trends in artificial kidneys (2014–2024): A bibliometric and visualization study

Abstract

When renal function is lost following resection of renal tumors, in the setting of end-stage kidney disease, or after traumatic nephrectomy, kidney transplantation is typically required; however, owing to constraints in healthcare resources, only a minority of patients can access transplantation. In this context, the development of efficient artificial kidneys as alternative therapies may help alleviate donor scarcity and holds potential clinical applicability, underscoring the substantial significance of this research. In the present study, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on the global literature in the field of artificial kidneys from 2014 to 2024, delineating overall developmental trends and technological hotspots. The findings indicate a marked increase in publications related to artificial kidneys over the past decade, with the field evolving from conventional renal replacement therapies toward a multidisciplinary paradigm integrating medicine, engineering, and artificial intelligence. The United States and other countries have made prominent contributions, and collaboration among multiple institutions has become increasingly frequent. Key research hotspots include the use of artificial intelligence in kidney-disease prediction models and clinical decision support, the development of implantable or wearable fully functional artificial kidneys, and advances in bioartificial kidneys and tissue-engineering technologies. The results further suggest that artificial-kidney technologies are entering a new stage characterized by increasing intelligence and convergence with biological and tissue-engineering approaches. Progress in novel immunomodulatory materials and biosensing technologies is expected to facilitate the development of artificial kidneys with therapeutic efficacy approaching that of kidney transplantation. This analysis provides an important reference for researchers, may help guide future research directions and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration, and ultimately may accelerate the realization of an ideal artificial kidney and improve the prognosis of patients with end-stage kidney disease.