Fluorescence Image Fusion for Cell-Killing Efficacy Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting cell-killing efficacy and immune activity in immune cell therapy products are limited by poor uniformity, batch variability, short effective period, and lack of comparability, making quality control complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing image processing techniques, including image overlapping synthesis and fusion analysis, to analyze microscopic images of co-culture samples labeled with fluorescent dyes, enabling accurate evaluation of cell-killing efficacy and immune activity through cell parameter statistics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods (cadmium-51 release, LDH release, flow cytometry) are used for detecting cell-killing efficacy, then detection can be performed, but the results lack intuitiveness, accuracy, and efficiency simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical and chemical detection systems (cadmium-51 release apparatus, LDH enzymatic reaction systems, flow cytometry machines) with an optical imaging system. The system uses fluorescent dyes and microscopy to directly visualize and quantify cell killing, substituting mechanical/chemical processes with optical detection that provides both high precision and intuitive results through image analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs fluorescent dyes that exhibit color changes based on cellular state (live vs. dead cells). Different fluorescent markers emit distinct colors or fluorescence intensities that directly indicate cell viability, enabling accurate and intuitive detection of cell-killing efficacy through optical detection of these color/fluorescence changes without complex processing.
2Reliability
If multiple traditional detection methods are employed to ensure accuracy, then detection reliability improves, but the detection process becomes more complex and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple detection functions into a single integrated optical imaging system. By combining fluorescent staining, microscopy imaging, and automated image analysis into one system, it achieves reliable cell-killing detection without requiring separate experiments for different assays, thereby improving productivity while maintaining detection reliability through multi-parameter optical readouts.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical imaging system is designed with multi-functionality to detect various cell parameters simultaneously (cell viability, membrane integrity, intracellular events) using different fluorescent markers. This universal approach allows a single system to perform multiple detection roles that traditionally required separate specialized methods, enhancing both reliability and efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If detailed analysis of cell parameters is performed to improve evaluation accuracy, then detection precision improves, but the complexity of data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated image analysis algorithms that self-process the fluorescent images to extract cell parameters. The system automatically identifies cells, quantifies fluorescence intensity, calculates viability ratios, and generates evaluation results without requiring manual intervention or complex external processing, thereby achieving high evaluation accuracy while keeping the processing system simple and self-sufficient.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides an intuitive, accurate, and efficient means to assess cell-killing efficacy and immune activity, overcoming limitations of traditional methods by enhancing quality control and consistency in immune cell therapy products.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fluorescence microscopic image determined based on a combination of a preset fluorescent label, a total cell fluorescent label, and a dead cell fluorescent label
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method, a system, and an application for detecting at least one of a cell-killing efficacy or an immune activity. The method comprises: obtaining a plurality of microscopic images of a fixed area of a co-culture sample, wherein the co-culture sample is a cell sample obtained by co-culturing target cells and effector cells, the fixed area of the co-culture sample includes a plurality of objects, wherein the plurality of objects are a cell group including cells with different properties, each of the plurality of objects having an image-identifiable feature; performing an image overlapping synthesis analysis or an image fusion analysis for the plurality of microscopic images to obtain the cell properties of the plurality of objects and make statistics to cell parameters associated with the cell properties; and evaluating at least one of the cell-killing efficacy or the immune activity of the effector cells based on the cell parameters.