Innovative Imaging Technique Tracks Cellular Processes with Minimal Damage

An advancement in imaging technology has the potential to revolutionize the understanding of the inner workings of living cells and offer insights into a variety of diseases.

The study, which was just published in the journal Nature Communications, reveals a novel method for revealing subcellular dynamics and structures by combining deep learning, artificial intelligence, and super-resolution imaging.

Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney, Ningbo Eastern Institute of Technology, and Peking University led the study.

It is like taking an airplane over a city at night and watching all the live interactions. This cutting-edge technology will open new doors in the quest to understand the intricate world within our cells.”

Dayong Jin, Distinguished Professor and Director, Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices, University of Technology Sydney

Cellular issues are the root cause of many diseases and conditions. Scientists will be able to better understand the underlying causes of diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, and metabolic issues by visualizing cellular processes, which will result in better treatments.

The novel method solves some of the main problems with the imaging techniques that are currently in use for visualizing the structures inside living cells.

Current tools such as fluorescence microscopy have limitations in resolution that make it difficult to see the tiny structures within cells or track detailed cellular processes. Traditional methods can also cause phototoxicity and photobleaching damage to a cell due to light exposure and they struggle to simultaneously show multiple structures within a cell due to restrictions in the number of colors that can be used.”

Dayong Jin, Distinguished Professor and Director, Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices, University of Technology Sydney

The novel approach accurately predicts 15 different subcellular structures with only one laser and two detection channels.

The innovation not only eliminates the limitations of employing several colors by using a single dye label, but it also considerably accelerates the imaging process.

The high-resolution images accurately capture the changes between organelles (cell compartments), serving as an “optical fingerprint.” The technique is also highly versatile, suggesting that it can be used with a variety of microscopes, cell types, and even complicated living tissues.

This adaptability enables scientists to investigate and comprehend the 3D structure of live cells at various phases of cell division, as well as monitor the fast interactions between intracellular compartments.

Professor Jin stated that the team is currently collaborating with several medical research organizations, including virologists studying virus-cell interactions and cell defense mechanisms and scientists imaging cardiomyocytes to better understand heart disease.

They believe that the technique will lead to fresh discoveries and advancements in medical research.