Self-Supervised and Zero-Shot Learning in Multi-Modal Raman Light Sheet Microscopy

Sensors (Basel). 2024 Dec 20;24(24):8143. doi: 10.3390/s24248143.

Abstract

Advancements in Raman light sheet microscopy have provided a powerful, non-invasive, marker-free method for imaging complex 3D biological structures, such as cell cultures and spheroids. By combining 3D tomograms made by Rayleigh scattering, Raman scattering, and fluorescence detection, this modality captures complementary spatial and molecular data, critical for biomedical research, histology, and drug discovery. Despite its capabilities, Raman light sheet microscopy faces inherent limitations, including low signal intensity, high noise levels, and restricted spatial resolution, which impede the visualization of fine subcellular structures. Traditional enhancement techniques like Fourier transform filtering and spectral unmixing require extensive preprocessing and often introduce artifacts. More recently, deep learning techniques, which have shown great promise in enhancing image quality, face their own limitations. Specifically, conventional deep learning models require large quantities of high-quality, manually labeled training data for effective denoising and super-resolution tasks, which is challenging to obtain in multi-modal microscopy. In this study, we address these limitations by exploring advanced zero-shot and self-supervised learning approaches, such as ZS-DeconvNet, Noise2Noise, Noise2Void, Deep Image Prior (DIP), and Self2Self, which enhance image quality without the need for labeled and large datasets. This study offers a comparative evaluation of zero-shot and self-supervised learning methods, evaluating their effectiveness in denoising, resolution enhancement, and preserving biological structures in multi-modal Raman light sheet microscopic images. Our results demonstrate significant improvements in image clarity, offering a reliable solution for visualizing complex biological systems. These methods establish the way for future advancements in high-resolution imaging, with broad potential for enhancing biomedical research and discovery.

Keywords: Raman scattering; Rayleigh scattering; deep learning; denoising; fluorescence; light sheet microscopy; multi-mode; self-supervised learning; spheroid; super-resolution; unsupervised learning; zero-shot learning.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Deep Learning
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Microscopy* / methods
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman* / methods
  • Supervised Machine Learning

Grants and funding

We would like to acknowledge funding support from the graduate program Perpharmance (BW6_07) provided by the Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts (MWK) of Baden–Württemberg.