Polymeric Nanocarriers for Transdermal Drug Delivery: An Overview of Research Indexed in the Scopus Database
Arvind Raghav, Vaibhav RastogiIntroduction:
Polymeric nanocarriers have gained considerable attention in transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) due to their ability to enhance skin permeation, improve bioavailability, and enable controlled drug release. The rapid expansion of research in this area warrants a comprehensive assessment of the scientific landscape. This study aimed to evaluate global research trends, scientific productivity, collaboration networks, influential publications, funding patterns, and emerging themes in polymeric nanocarrier-based TDDS from 2013 to 2023.
Methods:
A bibliometric analysis was performed using publications retrieved from the Scopus database. English-language articles and reviews published between 2013 and 2023 were identified through a predefined search strategy. Data were analyzed using Bibliometrix (RStudio) and VOSviewer to assess publication trends, citation performance, author productivity, institutional contributions, country collaborations, funding agencies, and keyword co-occurrence patterns.
Results:
A total of 11,257 publications were included in the analysis. Research output increased steadily over the study period, with a marked rise after 2019. China, the United States, and India were the most productive countries, while the United States demonstrated the highest citation impact. The Journal of Controlled Release and the International Journal of Pharmaceutics emerged as the leading publication sources. Keyword analysis revealed major research themes related to polymeric nanoparticles, biomaterials, microneedle-assisted delivery, smart drug delivery systems, and translational nanomedicine.
Discussion:
The findings indicate a transition toward advanced polymeric nanocarriers, smart delivery platforms, and personalized transdermal therapies. Increased international collaboration, funding support, and technological advancements have accelerated research growth. Emerging areas such as stimuli-responsive nanocarriers and microneedle-integrated systems are expected to drive future innovation.
Conclusion:
This bibliometric review provides valuable insights into the evolution, current status, and future directions of polymeric nanocarrier research in TDDS.