Single-detector dual-modality imaging flow cytometry for label-free cell analysis with machine learning

A dual-modality imaging flow cytometer (dIFC) that obtains both brightfield and light scattering images of single cells simultaneously on one detector was developed. The unique optical layout of our system with a knife-edge right-angle (KERA) prism is key for single-detector dual-modality imaging. By using our dIFC, label-free bright-field and light scattering images of single micrometer particles and cells (ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and Hey) were obtained. Automatic classification of ovarian cell subtypes was achieved with an accuracy of 89.52% for light scattering imaging, and 70.25% for brightfield imaging by integration of dIFC with machine learning. Compared with the obtaining of brightfield and fluorescence images in conventional IFC, our dIFC is promising for label-free cellular analysis especially by adopting the light scattering image modality.