Topics and Trends in Most Cited Mesenchymal stem cell research Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Mesenchymal stem cell research research in the Class of 2026?

Mesenchymal stem cell research in the Class of 2026 pivoted toward redox regulation, organelle transfer, and single-cell resolution. ROS scavenging emerged while NF-κB signaling and single-cell RNA sequencing quadrupled. Meanwhile, research on raw adipose and bone marrow MSC sources contracted in relative share as focus shifted to cell-free exosomes and bio-functional GelMA hydrogels.

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Updated July 31, 2026

At a glance

Field
Mesenchymal stem cell research
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
5,184
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Adipose-derived MSCs, Exosomes/Extracellular vesicles, Immunomodulation, Macrophage polarization, Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
31–141
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 5,184
14118m citations

Exosome-coated oxygen nanobubble-laden hydrogel augments intracellular delivery of exosomes for enhanced wound healing

Xiaoxue Han et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-47696-5

Joseph IrudayarajUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States

exosome-coated oxygen nanobubblesAdipose-derived mesenchymal stem cellshypoxia-induced endocytic recyclingpolyvinyl alcohol/gelatin hybrid hydrogelintracellular cargo deliverychronic hypoxiawound angiogenesisself-healing hydrogelhydrogen peroxide decompositionhemostasisexosome therapeutic cargoFull-thickness wound modelwound inflammationhypoxic tissue deliverycrosslinking bondsmicroRNA delivery
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#2 of 5,184
11418m citations

Curcumin-primed olfactory mucosa-derived mesenchymal stem cells mitigate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced neuronal PANoptosis by modulating microglial polarization

Ziwei Lan et al.Phytomedicine202410.1016/j.phymed.2024.155635

Ziwei Lan, Yan HuangCentral South University, China

PANoptosiscerebral ischemia-reperfusion injuryolfactory mucosa-derived mesenchymal stem cellscurcumin preconditioningMicroglia polarizationM1 microgliaM2 microglia/Anti-inflammatory microgliamicroRNA-423-5pNOD2NF-κB signaling pathwayMAPK signaling pathwaymiddle cerebral artery occlusionOxygen-glucose deprivationHT22 neuronsBV2 microgliaNeuroinflammationprogrammed cell deathStem cell therapyIschemic stroke
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#3 of 5,184
6918m citations

Generation of complex bone marrow organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells

Stephanie Frenz-Wiessner et al.Nature Methods202410.1038/s41592-024-02172-2

Christoph KleinLudwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany

bone marrow organoidshuman induced pluripotent stem cellsBone marrow microenvironmentMesenchymal stem cellsneutrophil differentiationSingle-cell RNA sequencinghematopoietic stem/progenitor cellsfetal HSCslymphoid potentialxenotransplantationVPS45 deficiencythree-dimensional self-organizationvascular networkinflammatory stimuli responsivenessinborn errors of hematopoiesishematopoietic development modeling
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#4 of 5,184
6418m citations

Delphi-driven consensus definition for mesenchymal stromal cells and clinical reporting guidelines for mesenchymal stromal cell–based therapeutics

Laurent Renesme et al.Cytotherapy202410.1016/j.jcyt.2024.10.008

Bernard ThébaudOttawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada

Mesenchymal stem cellsDelphi methodconsensus definitionclinical reporting guidelinesclinical translationcell marker expressiontissue originstemnesscritical quality attributesMSC productMSC provenanceMSC fitnessviabilityimmune compatibilityoxygen environmentculture mediumserum usereproducibilitytransparency
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#5 of 5,184
6318m citations

Safety and potential effects of intrathecal injection of allogeneic human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in complete subacute spinal cord injury: a first-in-human, single-arm, open-label, phase I clinical trial

Mohammadhosein Akhlaghpasand, Roozbeh Tavanaei et al.Stem Cell Research & Therapy202410.1186/s13287-024-03868-0

Reza Heidari, Saeed Oraee‐YazdaniAJA University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Intrathecal injectionUmbilical cord MSC-derived exosomescomplete subacute spinal cord injuryPhase I clinical trialUltracentrifugationAmerican Spinal Injury Association Impairment ScaleSpinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM-III)neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) scoremodified Ashworth scale (MAS)ASIA pinprick scoreASIA light touch scoreaxon regenerationParacrine activitylower urinary tract functionFunctional recoverysensory improvement
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#6 of 5,184
5518m citations

Intrathecal delivery of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in traumatic spinal cord injury: Phase I trial

Mohamad Bydon et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-46259-y

Mohamad BydonMayo Clinic, United States

Intrathecal injectionAdipose-derived mesenchymal stem cellstraumatic spinal cord injuryPhase I clinical trialautologous culture-expanded cellsAmerican Spinal Injury Association Impairment ScaleAIS gradesensory and motor scorescerebrospinal fluid markerssomatosensory evoked potentialsadverse eventsheadachemusculoskeletal painAIS grade improvement
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#7 of 5,184
5418m citations

An injury-induced mesenchymal-epithelial cell niche coordinates regenerative responses in the lung

Dakota L Jones et al.Science202410.1126/science.ado5561

Edward E. MorriseyUniversity of Pennsylvania, United States

airway basal stem cellsalveolar stem cellsstem cell collisiondysplastic repairkeratin 5+ epithelial cellsPdgfra+ mesenchymal cellsinjury-induced tissue nichesingle-cell analysismesenchymal proliferationNotch signalingWnt/Fgf signalingalveolar signaling patternsFunctional recoverygas exchangefibrotic lung diseasedegenerative lung diseaselung injuryregenerative responses
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#8 of 5,184
5318m citations

Piezoelectric hydrogel for treatment of periodontitis through bioenergetic activation

Xin Liu et al.Bioactive Materials202410.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.02.011

Xin Liu, Zhong Lin Wang, Linlin LiShanghai Jiao Tong University, China

piezoelectric hydrogelperiodontitisbioenergetic activationOsteogenesisperiodontal ligament stem cellsPDLSCsenergy metabolismATP synthesispiezopotentialmechanical stressimmune microenvironmentMacrophage polarizationtilapia gelatinImmunomodulationBone regenerationinflammatory periodontal defectspiezoelectric stimulation
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#9 of 5,184
5218m citations

Exosomes from hypoxic urine-derived stem cells facilitate healing of diabetic wound by targeting SERPINE1 through miR-486-5p

Ming-Hui Fan et al.Biomaterials202410.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122893

Huiqi XieSichuan University, China

urine-derived stem cellsHypoxic preconditioningExosomes/Extracellular vesiclesmiR-486-5pSERPINE1diabetic wound healingAngiogenesisdECM hydrogelSISMA hydrogelSmall intestinal submucosaendothelial cell proliferationendothelial cell migrationTube formation assayHIF-1α signaling pathwaymiRNA sequencingexosome deliveryCell-free therapy
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#10 of 5,184
5118m citations

Cause and consequence of heterogeneity in human mesenchymal stem cells: Challenges in clinical application

Zhao Lyu et al.Pathology - Research and Practice202410.1016/j.prp.2024.155354

Zheng Wang, Zheng Wang, Qian LiXi'an International Medical Center Hospital, China

Mesenchymal stem cellscellular heterogeneityclinical application challengesMSC phenotypic variationStem cell therapyquality controldonor variabilityculture conditionsMSC subpopulationstherapeutic efficacystandardizationpotency assays
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#11 of 5,184
4818m citations

Engineering exosomes derived from TNF-α preconditioned IPFP-MSCs enhance both yield and therapeutic efficacy for osteoarthritis

Jiangyi Wu, Jinhui Wu, Wei Xiang et al.Journal of Nanobiotechnology202410.1186/s12951-024-02795-9

Yongqian Wang, Siru Zhou, Zhenhong NiChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, China

TNF-α preconditioningIPFP-MSCsMSC-derived exosomesOsteoarthritisexosome yield optimizationPI3K/AKT signaling pathwayATG16L1exosome secretionIntra-articular injectionCartilage degradationLRP1chondroprotective effectsRNA sequencingProteomicspro-inflammatory preconditioningcartilage homeostasisOA mouse model
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#12 of 5,184
4118m citations

LNP-RNA-engineered adipose stem cells for accelerated diabetic wound healing

Yonger Xue, Yuebao Zhang, Yichen Zhong et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-45094-5

Yizhou DongThe Ohio State University, United States

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cellsASCsLipid nanoparticlesisomannide-derived lipid nanoparticlesDIM1T LNPSelf-amplifying RNAE3 mRNASEC complexHepatocyte growth factorCXCL12diabetic wound healingDiabetic wound modelRNA deliverycell engineeringdurable protein secretiontissue regeneration
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#13 of 5,184
3918m citations

TGF-β1 mediates hypoxia-preconditioned olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells improved neural functional recovery in Parkinson’s disease models and patients

Yi Zhuo, Wen-Shui Li et al.Military Medical Research202410.1186/s40779-024-00550-7

De-An Tan, Da Duan, Ming Lu921 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force People's Liberation Army of China, China

Parkinson's diseasehypoxia-preconditioned olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cellsdopaminergic neuronssubstantia nigraNeuroinflammationTGF-βSingle-cell RNA sequencingATAC-seqISO-seqintraspinal transplantationmitochondrial function recoverymicroglia immune regulationautophagy homeostasisPI3K/AKT signaling pathwayPhase I clinical trialNeuroprotection
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#14 of 5,184
3618m citations

Effectiveness of Exosome Treatment in Androgenetic Alopecia: Outcomes of a Prospective Study

Mert Ersan et al.Aesthetic Plastic Surgery202410.1007/s00266-024-04332-3

Mert ErsanYeditepe University, Turkey

Exosome therapyAndrogenetic alopeciaforeskin-derived mesenchymal stromal cellsMSC-derived exosomesScalp injectionhair densityNorwood-Hamilton scalenanoparticle tracking analysisdigital imaging analysispatient satisfactionhair growth therapyregenerative medicine
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#15 of 5,184
3518m citations

Multifunctional Scaffold Comprising Metal–Organic Framework, Hydrogel, and Demineralized Bone Matrix for the Treatment of Steroid‐Induced Femoral Head Necrosis

Liangjie Bai et al.Small202410.1002/smll.202407758

Bin Liu, Zhentao Man, Wei LiShandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, China

Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral headReactive oxygen speciesROS scavengingZn-MOF-818DeferoxamineGelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)Demineralized bone matrixBone marrow mesenchymal stem cellsmitophagyMacrophage polarizationHIF-1α signaling pathwaysuperoxide dismutase-like activityCatalase-like activityOsteogenesis
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#16 of 5,184
3318m citations

Connexin 43 regulates intercellular mitochondrial transfer from human mesenchymal stromal cells to chondrocytes

Rebecca M Irwin et al.Stem Cell Research & Therapy202410.1186/s13287-024-03932-9

Michelle L. DelcoCornell University, United States

Connexin 43GJA1-20kintercellular mitochondrial transferMesenchymal stem cellschondrocytesOsteoarthritisoxidative stresstert-Butyl hydroperoxidemitochondrial membrane depolarizationReactive oxygen speciessiRNA knockdownLentiviral transductiondirect contact co-culturetranswell co-cultureflow cytometryactin cellular extensionsCartilage repair
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#17 of 5,184
3318m citations

Exosomes loaded a smart bilayer-hydrogel scaffold with ROS-scavenging and macrophage-reprogramming properties for repairing cartilage defect

Xiaoqing Lu et al.Bioactive Materials202410.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.04.017

Shishuo Li, Ningbo Li, Ningbo Li, Zhentao Man, Bing Liu, Wei LiShandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, China

Exosomes/Extracellular vesiclesbilayer-hydrogel scaffoldROS scavengingMacrophage polarizationCartilage repairReactive oxygen speciessodium diclofenacBone marrow mesenchymal stem cellsphenylboronic-acid-crosslinked polyvinyl alcoholROS-responsive degradationhyaluronic acid hydrogelChondrogenesisstem cell recruitmentoxidative stress mitigationpost-traumatic inflammationCell-free therapymulti-staged therapeutic delivery
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#18 of 5,184
3318m citations

Glycoengineered extracellular vesicles released from antibacterial hydrogel facilitate diabetic wound healing by promoting angiogenesis

Kewei Wang et al.Journal of Extracellular Vesicles202410.1002/jev2.70013

Xinguo Hou, Li ChenQilu Hospital of Shandong University, China

diabetic wound healingExosomes/Extracellular vesiclesglycoengineeringE-selectinfucosyltransferase VIIsialyl Lewis XMesenchymal stem cellsGelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)poly-L-lysine methacryloylantibacterial hydrogelSingle-cell RNA sequencingAngiogenesisHUVECLPS-induced inflammationLentiviral transductionCD63-P19-Nluc vectorinfected diabetic wounds
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#19 of 5,184
3118m citations

3D culture of alginate-hyaluronic acid hydrogel supports the stemness of human mesenchymal stem cells

Amorn Pangjantuk et al.Scientific Reports202410.1038/s41598-024-54912-1

Parinya NoisaSuranaree University of Technology, Thailand

alginate-hyaluronic acid hydrogel3D cell cultureMesenchymal stem cellsstemness maintenanceCell spheroidsOCT-4NANOGSOX2SIRT1YAPTAZKi67hTERTtelomere relative lengthcell encapsulationextracellular matrix mimicryGelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)Live/Dead viability assayScaffolds
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#20 of 5,184
3118m citations

Human placental mesenchymal stromal cell‐derived small extracellular vesicles as a treatment for severe COVID‐19: A double‐blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Mohammad Hossein Zamanian et al.Journal of Extracellular Vesicles202410.1002/jev2.12492

Reza Yarani, Kamran MansouriKermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cellsExosomes/Extracellular vesicleshPMSC-sEVsCOVID-19Acute respiratory distress syndromedouble-blind randomized controlled trialmortality ratiocritically ill patientsSpO2 levelshospital deathsmean time to death
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Mesenchymal stem cell research

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

Research in the Class of 2026 for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) research is strongly defined by paracrine cell-free therapies, bio-functional hydrogels, and deep cellular immunomodulation. Extracellular vesicles and MSC-derived exosomes (featured in 15% and 10% of top papers, respectively) dominate therapeutic modalities, reflecting a field-wide shift toward acellular therapeutics over direct cell transplantation. Specific cell sources remain evenly balanced between adipose-derived MSCs (15%) and bone marrow MSCs (15%). Mechanistically, regenerative efficacy is tightly coupled with immunomodulation (15%) and macrophage polarization (15%), alongside rising attention to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging (7.5%) to alleviate oxidative stress in microenvironments. In tissue engineering, bone regeneration (10%) and osteogenesis (15%) lead functional applications, heavily supported by advanced biomaterial matrices such as gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA, 10%) and hydrogel scaffolds. Clinically, diabetic wound healing (10%) and cartilage repair (7.5%) serve as primary target pathologies. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing (10%) and NF-κB signaling pathway analysis (10%) represent core analytical approaches, highlighting a mechanistic push to decode MSC heterogeneity and inflammatory signaling during tissue repair.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the Class of 2025 (2023 publications) to the Class of 2026 (2024 publications) reveals a transition from general stem cell profiling toward specialized microenvironmental organelle transfer, redox regulation, and high-resolution omics. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging surged from zero baseline mentions in 2023 to 7.5% in 2024, accompanied by a nearly 5-fold rise in NF-κB signaling pathway studies (rising from 2.1% to 10.0%). Next-generation transcriptomics saw dramatic gains, with single-cell RNA sequencing doubling (4.2% to 10.0%) and broader RNA sequencing expanding nearly 5-fold (2.1% to 10.0%). Novel biophysical mechanisms also gained momentum, marked by the emergence of intercellular mitochondrial transfer, YAP mechanotransduction, and dental pulp stem cells (all emerging from 0% in 2023 to 5.0% in 2024). Conversely, foundational topic shares contracted: adipose-derived MSCs dropped from 29.2% (14 papers) to 15.0% (6 papers), while bone marrow MSCs fell from 22.9% (11 papers) to 15.0% (6 papers). Similarly, broad functional endpoints like cartilage repair and angiogenesis contracted from 12.5% to 7.5%. This evolution highlights a field moving beyond descriptive stem cell characterization toward targeted organelle dynamics, oxidative stress control, and single-cell resolution therapeutics.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Mesenchymal stem cell research Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/mesenchymal-stem-cell-research/2026. Accessed 2026-07-31.

Methodology
Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459