Biology subjects

Gorti, V.

Publications and source records attributed to Gorti, V..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Label- and slide-free multispectral quantitative epi-illumination deep-UV microscopy

Label-free and slide-free imaging is highly desired in clinical pathology because it holds the potential to avoid time- and labor-intensive tissue processing and chemical staining while preserving molecular information for downstream analyses. Deep-ultraviolet (UV) microscopy offers high-resolution, label-free molecular contrast via short wavelengths and intrinsic biomolecular absorption, but prior implementations have been limited to the analysis of thin sections and cell monolayers. Here, we present a fast, low-cost, LED-based, epi-illumination deep-UV microscope (epi-DUV) for label- and slide-free imaging of fresh, thick tissues. Using 255 nm and 280 nm absorption images, and tryptophan autofluorescence, the method yields quantitative maps of nucleic acid mass, protein mass, and quantum yield. Moreover, H&E-like contrast can be generated using native 255-nm absorption images. The system achieves 0.5 {micro}m lateral resolution with an effective slice thickness of [~]6 {micro}m across a 707 {micro}m x 707 {micro}m field of view and uses [~]330-ms exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of quantitative deep-UV molecular imaging of fresh, unlabeled thick tissues. Epi-DUV has significant potential to streamline the histopathology workflow while adding objective molecular readouts, enabling point-of-care assessment of unprocessed specimens (e.g., rapid intraoperative evaluation).

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

Non-destructive, high-resolution T cell characterization and subtyping via deep-ultraviolet microscopy

T cell characterization is critical for understanding immune function, monitoring disease progression, and optimizing cell-based therapies. Current technologies to characterize T cells, such as flow cytometry, require fluorescent labeling and typically are destructive endpoint measurements. Non-destructive, label-free imaging methods have been proposed, but face limitations with throughput, specificity, and system complexity. Here we demonstrate deep-ultraviolet (UV) microscopy as a label-free, non-destructive, fast and simple imaging approach for assessing T cell viability, activation state, and subtype with high accuracy. Using static deep-UV images, we characterize T cell viability and activation state, demonstrating excellent agreement with flow cytometry measurements. We further apply dynamic deep-UV imaging to quantify intracellular activity, enabling fast and accurate subtyping of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These results corroborate recent studies on metabolic activity differences between these subtypes, but now with deep-UV microscopy they are enabled by a non-destructive, fast, low-cost and simple approach. Together, our results demonstrate deep-UV microscopy as a powerful tool for high-throughput immune cell characterization, with broad applications in immunology re-search, immune monitoring, and development of emerging cell-based therapies.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

Label-Free In-Line Characterization of Immune Cell Culture using Quantitative Phase Imaging

Cell therapies, including T cell immunotherapies, offer promising treatments for previously untreatable diseases, but their widespread use is hindered by challenges in monitoring therapeutic cells during culture--impacting consistency, potency, and cost. This work demonstrates the use of quantitative phase imaging (QPI), specifically a compact, non-interferometric form called quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy (qOBM), for non-destructive, label-free, in-line assessment of T cell cultures. qOBM enables near real-time feedback on culture growth, contamination, and cell status (viability and activation), comparable to flow cytometry. We further apply this method to characterize genetically modified CAR T cells and explore its potential for advanced T cell phenotyping. Analysis of data from over 50 independent donors shows strong correlation between qOBM metrics and traditional destructive at-line assays. Overall, qOBM provides a powerful tool for continuous, in-line monitoring of therapeutic cell cultures, which can be transformative for improving reproducibility, reducing costs, and advancing the development of cell-based therapies.

immunology↗