A bibliometric analysis of nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer (2002-2026): Global trends, thematic shifts, and translational frontiers.

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Nanoparticle-based strategies hold great promise for improving treatment outcomes, yet the global research landscape and evolutionary trajectory remain unclear. We performed a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of publications from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus (up to July 31, 2026) using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix. A total of 4889 publications were included, with an annual growth rate of 28.36%. China and the United States are the leading contributors, with China having surpassed the USA in publication volume since 2019. Top institutions include the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang University, and Harvard University. Research hotspots have shifted from conventional drug delivery to tumor microenvironment modulation, exosome-based delivery, gene therapy, and combinatorial regimens. Nanoparticle research in pancreatic cancer has evolved into an interdisciplinary field transitioning from material design to biologically integrated multimodal strategies. Future priorities include clinical translation, standardization, and tumor microenvironment targeting.