Title:Nano-Enabled Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy: Literature Analysis Using the MeSH System
VOLUME: 4 ISSUE: 4
Author(s):Jing Ma, Alan L. Porter and Tejraj M. Aminabhavi
Affiliation:School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China.
Keywords:Bibliometrics, cancer, literature-based discovery, medical subject headings, nano-enabled
drug delivery, tech mining.
Abstract:Background: Biomedical literature provides abundant knowledge on R&D development
and emerging themes and techniques to researchers and to enhance clinical treatment.
Tracing research topic activity and researcher connections, and understanding evolving research
landscapes, support identification of research domain potential and informs R&D portfolio
management.
Methods: We offer a systematic approach to summarize biomedical research information
compiled from the MEDLINE database. Selected MeSH qualifiers are applied as properties
for clustering terms. Linkages among clusters are measured based on an object-attributevalue,
relative research concentration. By arraying selected technical dimensions against each
other, we enable identification and evaluation of latent connections.
Results: 10354 MEDLINE records from 2000 to 2013 on nano-enabled drug delivery
(NEDD) for cancer treatment are retrieved and analyzed. Seven topical clusters are generated
with relatively clear boundaries. Elements with high relative research concentration but low
number of records show emerging trends. And the concentrations’ decline indicates the universalization
of drugs and nano components in cancer treatment.
Conclusion: This systematic topical analysis process helps explore particular technological
trends and potentials in biomedical areas. It combines an algorithm to reveal latent connections
hidden in literature text content with expert judgement. From the standpoint of technology
assessment, it provides researchers and administrators the ability to capture biomedical
research dynamics.
