Marker-free, high-content screening for digital pathology

Challenge

High-content screening (HCS) is applied to human / animal cell cultures, model organisms, tissues and yeast cultures to answer biological / medical questions. It is also used for pharmaceutical drug developments. The samples on the microplates or microscope slides are automatically photographed, if necessary, under fluorescent lighting. The digital images then undergo classic image analysis. Digital pathology (DP) integrates HCS into comprehensive digital processing, analysis and archiving for tumor characterization or karyotyping. The data of tissue section preparations is available in high resolution and can be further processed in other databases and compared to reference data. Until today, conventional HCS and DP have not made use of the significant added value that lies in the collection of spectral data. Currently, chemical information is only accessible via the use of dyes that specifically bind to certain areas of the sample. Morphological information is only evaluated to the extent that it is available via standard brightfield illumination. 

Technology

Researchers at Reutlingen University have succeeded in developing a marker-free method that allows for the characterization of chromosomes, cells and tissue sections in terms of their chemical properties (absorbance) and their morphological properties (scattered light). Measurements were carried out in ultraviolet and visible light, with a compact spectrometer module that can easily and inexpensively be built into a standard microscope or an automated screening tool. During the measurements brightfield and darkfield lighting is used. Darkfield lighting is used to separate the elastically scattered light and obtain information on the morphology and texture of the sample. The appropriate multivariate analysis algorithm for spectral imaging enables the recognition of spectral key factors (interference patterns) that are substantiated through local differences in the calculation index, variations in layer thickness or the geometrical alignment of scatter centers. These interference patterns are very specific, like a fingerprint, for chromosomes as well as for cells of certain tissues and particularly for tumor cells.

A major advantage of this method is the flexible combination of optical hardware and different software, depending on the field of application. Applications for karyotyping metaphase chromosomes and for a marker-free characterization of glioma cross-sections by tumor grade have already been tested. Another application is currently being tested to examine head and neck tumors, both in human specimens and mouse model. In the long term, the industry might also become interested in this new type of screening, e.g. businesses working in the field of process monitoring.

Commercial Opportunity

Technologie-Lizenz-Büro GmbH is responsible for the exploitation of this technology and assists companies in obtaining licenses.

• Marker-free technology
• Additional contrasts in chemistry and morphology for HCS of biological materials
• For cells, tissues, metaphase chromosomes
• Method for karyotyping available
• Method for glioma characterization available
• Ideal complement to the digital pathology
• Can be integrated into all imaging methods (e.g. microscopy, endoscopy, HCS systems)
• May be combined with high-resolution methods
• Measurement hardware for multiple software modules (e.g. karyotyping, glioma characterization, etc.)

Development Status

Prototype

Patent Situation

An EP application for the marker-free characterization of glioma cross-sections is pending. Patents for the karyotyping have already been granted for the USA, FR, GB, DE.

Further Reading

www.tlb.de