Abstract
Continuous cell culture monitoring as a way of investigating growth, proliferation, and kinetics of biological experiments is in high demand. However, commercially available solutions are typically expensive and large in size. Digital inline-holographic microscopes (DIHM) can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional microscopes, bridging the gap towards live-cell culture imaging. In this work, a DIHM is built from inexpensive components and applied to different cell cultures. The images are reconstructed by computational methods and the data are analyzed with particle detection and tracking methods. Counting of cells as well as movement tracking of living cells is demonstrated, showing the feasibility of using a field-portable DIHM for basic cell culture investigation and bringing about the potential to deeply understand cell motility.
Highlights
Continuous cell culture monitoring is of high interest for the investigation of growth, proliferation, and kinetics of biological samples
The imaging capability of the digital inline-holographic microscope (DIHM) was evaluated by a standard resolution test target
When imaging the neuroblastoma cell culture, two distinct types of cells could be seen and classified: one type that is of oval or round shape and one type that is elongated and of irregular form
Summary
Continuous cell culture monitoring is of high interest for the investigation of growth, proliferation, and kinetics of biological samples. Continuous imaging of cell cultures is challenged both by the need for high image quality and compatibility with the cultivation environment. Observations of proliferation and differentiation kinetics could lead to a more thorough understanding of biological processes in cell cultures, and they are highly demanded [2]. Even though some high-end microscopes, which could be integrated into a cell incubation environment or have an integrated incubator unit, exist, those devices are highly priced and not suitable for large scale or long-term investigations. Small and inexpensive microscopes that could be hooked up to all individual samples for an extensive period are more desirable, especially in fields where high-end laboratories are not available
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