High-throughput marker-free screening of cytoplasmic vacuoles in adherent cells via Fourier ptychographic microscopy.

ABSTRACT: The formation of intracellular vacuoles in mammalian cells is associated with different dysfunctions, e.g., autophagy, lysosomal storage diseases, and cellular stress. We introduce a pipeline for high-throughput, label-free analysis of adherent cells and vacuoles using Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM). In fact, by tailoring the Cellpose model to the case of FPM phase-contrast imaging, we segment and characterize more than 3 × 10⁴ cells and more than 10⁵ vacuoles. We tune the platform using cells engineered to express various types of vacuoles. In pathological cells, our platform can identify distinct subpopulations within the same patient-derived line. By analyzing their content, the platform could yield clues about their origin and machinery, as well as screen

SUBMITTER: Valentino M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12643019 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature