Combining a specially designed nanophotonic chip with AI-automated image analysis

将专门设计的纳米光子芯片与人工智能自动图像分析相结合

A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore has developed a new biochip that, when paired with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can detect quickly and accurately extremely small amounts of microRNAs, which are tiny genetic markers linked to diseases such as heart disease..

新加坡南洋理工大学（NTU）的一组科学家开发了一种新的生物芯片，当与人工智能（AI）结合使用时，可以快速且准确地检测出极其微量的微小RNA，这些微小RNA是与心脏病等疾病相关的小型遗传标记。

The new biosensing platform combines a specially designed nanophotonic chip with AI-automated image analysis.

新型生物传感平台结合了专门设计的纳米光子芯片和人工智能自动图像分析。

With a tiny drop of blood loaded into the chip, it can rapidly detect multiple microRNA biomarkers. With its integrated AI imaging function, thousands of microRNA signals can be imaged and analysed in a single snapshot.

将一小滴血液加载到芯片中，它可以快速检测多种微RNA生物标志物。凭借其集成的AI成像功能，数千个微RNA信号可以在单次快照中成像并分析。

Compared with the current gold standard of detecting microRNA – PCR (polymerase chain reaction) detects tiny amounts of genetic material by copying them many times, the new device can cut detection time from hours to 20 minutes.

与目前检测微RNA的黄金标准——PCR（聚合酶链反应）相比，PCR通过多次复制来检测微量的遗传物质，而新设备可以将检测时间从数小时缩短到20分钟。

The team has constructed a compact prototype that includes a colour camera that can capture images of the nanophotonic chip, and a mobile phone application designed to analyse images for microRNA using AI algorithms and provide rapid results.

团队已经构建了一个紧凑的原型，其中包含一个可以捕捉纳米光子芯片图像的彩色相机，以及一个旨在使用人工智能算法分析图像中的微小RNA并提供快速结果的手机应用程序。

The platform also uses a deep-learning model known as Mask R-CNN to automatically analyse microscopic images.

该平台还使用了一种名为 Mask R-CNN 的深度学习模型来自动分析显微图像。

An automated AI imaging system captures the microRNA signals in one shot, after which the AI system identifies and classifies fluorescent signals and distinguishes between different microRNA types, removing the need for manual counting and reducing human error.

一种自动化的AI成像系统一次性捕获微RNA信号，随后AI系统识别和分类荧光信号，并区分不同类型的微RNA，无需人工计数，减少了人为误差。

The study was supported by the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 1 grant and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity Interdisciplinary Research Grant.

该研究得到了新加坡教育部学术研究基金第一级拨款以及科学、技术和研究局的制造、贸易和连接跨学科研究拨款的支持。

The team will be looking to talk to clinicians and industry to see how they can scale up to do further trials on other microRNA markers.

团队将寻求与临床医生和行业交流，看看如何扩大规模，对其他微RNA标志物进行进一步试验。