Automated cell identification and tracking using nanoparticle moving-light-displays

PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e40835. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040835. Epub 2012 Jul 19.

Abstract

An automated technique for the identification, tracking and analysis of biological cells is presented. It is based on the use of nanoparticles, enclosed within intra-cellular vesicles, to produce clusters of discrete, point-like fluorescent, light sources within the cells. Computational analysis of these light ensembles in successive time frames of a movie sequence, using k-means clustering and particle tracking algorithms, provides robust and automated discrimination of live cells and their motion and a quantitative measure of their proliferation. This approach is a cytometric version of the moving light display technique which is widely used for analyzing the biological motion of humans and animals. We use the endocytosis of CdTe/ZnS, core-shell quantum dots to produce the light displays within an A549, epithelial, lung cancer cell line, using time-lapse imaging with frame acquisition every 5 minutes over a 40 hour time period. The nanoparticle moving light displays provide simultaneous collection of cell motility data, resolution of mitotic traversal dynamics and identification of familial relationships allowing construction of multi-parameter lineage trees.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cadmium Compounds / chemistry
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Quantum Dots
  • Sulfides / chemistry
  • Tellurium / chemistry
  • Zinc Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Cadmium Compounds
  • Sulfides
  • Zinc Compounds
  • zinc sulfide
  • Tellurium
  • cadmium telluride