Mapping the global research landscape of nanomaterial-based cancer vaccines: A comprehensive bibliometric and visualized review

Nanomaterial-based cancer vaccines constitute a rapidly evolving frontier in cancer immunotherapy, offering innovative solutions to overcome the inherent limitations of conventional vaccine platforms, including suboptimal antigen delivery, poor immunogenicity, and systemic toxicity. With the advancement of nanotechnology, various nanocarriers—such as lipid nanoparticles, polymeric systems, and inorganic materials—have been engineered to enhance antigen stability, facilitate targeted delivery, and potentiate antitumor immune responses. In this review, we systematically examine the global research trends and scientific progression in the field of nanomaterial-based cancer vaccines from 2000 to 2024, based on bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. Analytical tools including CiteSpace, HistCite, and Alluvial Generator were employed to visualize co-citation networks, identify high-impact research clusters, detect emerging topics through keyword bursts, and delineate collaborative dynamics. A total of 3,910 publications were analyzed, revealing an exponential increase in research output since 2015, with a notable emphasis on lipid nanoparticle based mRNA vaccines and combinatorial immunotherapeutic approaches in recent years. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and collaboration landscape of nanomaterial-based cancer vaccine research, offering valuable perspectives to guide future investigations, foster global research synergy, and accelerate the clinical translation of next-generation nanovaccine platforms. • Nano-strategies significantly improve antigen stability, delivery efficiency, and immune response in cancer immunotherapy. • Future research focuses on tumor microenvironment-responsive and multifunctional nanovaccines. • AI-assisted design and modular nanoplatforms enable precision and personalized cancer vaccination.