Mapping the global trends and hotspots of research on gene therapy and hair cell regeneration for hearing loss: a comprehensive data-mining-based study.

Hearing loss poses substantial global healthcare challenges, and conventional treatments remain inadequate for genetic etiologies, necessitating innovative approaches like gene therapy. This study presents the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of hearing loss gene therapy to systematically map global trends, key contributors, and technological breakthroughs. We analyzed 2913 publications (1993-2025) from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus using advanced tools like CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix. Metrics encompassed publication trends, country and institutional contributions, journal influence, author productivity, and keyword networks, with a focus on adeno-associated virus vectors and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. Results indicate an exponential growth in publications, driven primarily by the USA and China, with the USA maintaining the highest citation impact. Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Fudan University emerged as the top contributing institutions. Keyword analysis identified AAV-driven hair cell regeneration and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutation correction as the dominant research frontiers. While AAV-based studies currently dominate highly cited works, CRISPR/Cas9 applications have gained significant momentum since 2015. Furthermore, clinical trials targeting genes like OTOF reflect rapid translational progress, with round-window membrane injection emerging as the most prevalent and promising surgical delivery approach. Ultimately, this study highlights the dynamic evolution of auditory gene therapy, providing a roadmap that bridges foundational discoveries with clinical applications while underscoring the necessity of global collaboration.