Cellular nucleus image-based smarter microscope system for single cell analysis.

Journal: Biosensors & bioelectronics
Published Date:

Abstract

Cell imaging technology is undoubtedly a powerful tool for studying single-cell heterogeneity due to its non-invasive and visual advantages. It covers microscope hardware, software, and image analysis techniques, which are hindered by low throughput owing to abundant hands-on time and expertise. Herein, a cellular nucleus image-based smarter microscope system for single-cell analysis is reported to achieve high-throughput analysis and high-content detection of cells. By combining the hardware of an automatic fluorescence microscope and multi-object recognition/acquisition software, we have achieved more advanced process automation with the assistance of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which realizes a high-throughput collection of single-cell images. Automated acquisition of single-cell images has benefits beyond ease and throughout and can lead to uniform standard and higher quality images. We further constructed a single-cell image database-based convolutional neural network (Efficient Convolutional Neural Network, E-CNN) exceeding 20618 single-cell nucleus images. Computational analysis of large and complex data sets enhances the content and efficiency of single-cell analysis with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which breaks through the super-resolution microscope's hardware limitation, such as specialized light sources with specific wavelengths, advanced optical components, and high-performance graphics cards. Our system can identify single-cell nucleus images that cannot be artificially distinguished with an accuracy of 95.3%. Overall, we build an ordinary microscope into a high-throughput analysis and high-content smarter microscope system, making it a candidate tool for Imaging cytology.

Authors

  • Wentao Wang
    Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
  • Lin Yang
    National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology (Central South University), Ministry of Education, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • Hang Sun
    CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
  • Xiaohong Peng
    YueYang Central Hospital, YueYang, Hunan Province, 414000, China.
  • Junjie Yuan
    Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instruments of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518017, China.
  • Wenhao Zhong
    Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instruments of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518017, China.
  • Jinqi Chen
    Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instruments of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518017, China.
  • Xin He
    Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical, Guizhou, China.
  • Lingzhi Ye
    Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instruments of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518017, China.
  • Yi Zeng
    Department of Geriatrics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China.
  • Zhifan Gao
    School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
  • Yunhui Li
    Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
  • Xiangmeng Qu
    Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instruments of Guangdong Province and School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China. quxm5@mail.sysu.edu.cn.