The Nikon reference centre at IBPM ( www.imagingplatformibpmcnr.it ) is a microscopy platform for high resolution imaging of fixed samples and live cells (time-lapse video recording, both wide field and confocal spinning disk). Multimodal (fluorescence and transmitted light) and multidimensional (in x,y,z, 4 wavelengths, over time) acquisition modes are in place. By integrating novel cellular models and imaging methodologies we have achieved high automation levels in acquisition modalities and automated analysis pipelines for large datasets (thousands per experiment, high-throughput) based on machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches (high content information). We can thus provide (i) novel tools to the scientific community and the biomedical industry to understand the complexity and heterogeneity of the cellular response to treatments of pharmacological interest and (ii) collaboration to companies operating in the imaging field in technological projects.
Single cell high throughput microscopy, coupled with complex analyses of multidimensional data, offers significant advantages in pharmacological and biotechnological applications:
- capability of resolving spatio-temporal features of biological processes (e.g. cell division, death and differentiation, drug uptake) associated to application versatility;
- unique ability to identify rare events within a heterogeneous cell population;
- high reproducibility of gained information, translatable into quantitative measurements through the development of automated workflows.
These features can increase the effectiveness and speed of drug response studies in cellular models and hence facilitate further pre-clinical and clinical investigations, thus providing the biomedical sector with an original process improvement, and the imaging companies with a platform for the pre-commercial validation of accessories and software.