Pushing the boundaries of single molecule microscopy, optical sensing and mass spectrometry through deep learning
Doctoral thesis, 2024

Deep learning has transformed sensing and characterization technologies, enabling significant advancements across various scientific domains. This thesis investigates the application of deep learning techniques to enhance the applicability of microscopy, spectrometry, and sensing, particularly under high noise conditions. The central hypothesis of this research is that deep learning can substantially improve the sensitivity and specificity of these technologies, allowing for the detection and analysis of minute signals that were previously obscured by the noise.

Key contributions include the development of novel deep learning methods that enhance nanofluidic scattering microscopy, nanoplasmonic sensing, and mass spectrometry. These methods enable precise quantification of chemical reactions on nanoscale surfaces, detailed detection of cellular structures and molecular interactions, and accurate identification of low-concentration substances amidst strong background signals. Collectively, these advancements push the boundaries of what can be measured and observed at microscopic and molecular scales, offering groundbreaking applications in environmental monitoring and healthcare diagnostics.

Environmental Monitoring

Nanofluidic Scattering Microscopy

Deep Learning

Cross-modality Transformation

Mass Spectrometry

Biomolecule Detection

Nanoplasmonic Sensing

Virtual Staining

PJ Fysik Origo, Fysikgården 4
Opponent: Prof. Dr. Ir. Fons J Verbeek, Inst. of Advanced Computer Science, Leiden University

Author

Henrik Klein Moberg

Chalmers, Physics, Chemical Physics

Henrik Klein Moberg, Joachim Fritzsche, Giovanni Volpe, Christoph Langhammer, Deep-learning enabled mass spectrometry of the reaction product from a single catalyst nanoparticle

Viktor Martvall, Henrik Klein Moberg, Athanasios Theodiridis, David Tomecek, Pernilla Tanner, Paul Erhart, Christoph Langhammer, Accelerating Plasmonic Hydrogen Sensors for Inert Gas Environments by Transformer-Based Deep Learning

Henrik Klein Moberg*, Benjamin Midtvedt*, Dana Hassan*, Jesus Pineda*, Jesus Dominguez*, Cross-modality transformations in biological microscopy enabled by deep learning

Henrik Klein Moberg, Bohdan Yeroshenko, David Albinsson, Joachim Fritzsche, Daniel Midtvedt, Barbora Spackova, Giovanni Volpe, Christoph Langhammer, Deep Learning Microscopy for Label-free Biomolecule Weight-and-Size Characterization in the Single-kDa Regime

This PhD thesis focuses on how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to help scientists study molecules and chemical reactions in a new and more powerful way. Scientists use tools like microscopes and sensors to look at tiny molecules, but these tools have limitations, especially when dealing with very small molecules or when there is a lot of noise, making it hard to get clear results. This research introduces AI to overcome these challenges by recognizing patterns that human eyes or traditional tools might miss.

One key breakthrough in this work is improving a special type of microscope, called Nanofluidic Scattering Microscopy (NSM), which lets scientists observe molecules like insulin without having to add any labels or dyes. This allows the study of molecules in their natural state, making the results more accurate. The AI also makes it possible to detect these tiny molecules in real-time, even when they are hard to see with traditional methods.

AI is also being used to make hydrogen sensors more precise. These sensors are important for the safe use of hydrogen as a clean energy source. By using AI, the sensors can detect hydrogen more accurately, which is crucial for safety in industries using hydrogen fuel.

Overall, this thesis shows how AI is helping scientists push the limits of what we can see and measure in the world of tiny molecules. This technology can have big impacts on healthcare, energy, and the environment by making it easier to study and understand the small details that matter.

The Sub-10 nm Challenge in Single Particle Catalysis

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2018-00329), 2019-01-01 -- 2024-12-31.

NACAREI: Nanofluidic Catalytic Reaction Imaging

European Commission (EC) (101043480), 2023-01-01 -- 2027-12-31.

Nanoplasmonisk Sensing's Heliga Graal

Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) (FFL15-0087), 2017-01-01 -- 2021-12-31.

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Infrastructure

C3SE (Chalmers Centre for Computational Science and Engineering)

Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory

Nanofabrication Laboratory

Subject Categories

Other Physics Topics

Nano Technology

Computer Science

ISBN

978-91-8103-118-8

Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 5576

Publisher

Chalmers

PJ Fysik Origo, Fysikgården 4

Online

Opponent: Prof. Dr. Ir. Fons J Verbeek, Inst. of Advanced Computer Science, Leiden University

More information

Latest update

10/21/2024