Label-free detection of rare cancer cells using deep learning and magnetic levitation principle

Magnetic levitation is an effective tool for separating target cells within a heterogeneous solution by utilizing density differences among cell lines. However, magnetic levitation cannot be used to identify target cells which have similar density profile as the other cells in the solution. Therefore, cell identification accuracy can dramatically reduce. In this study, we introduce, for the first time, the use of deep learning-based object detection approach for label-free identification of rare cancer cells within levitated cells. As a result, our novel and hybrid detection strategy could be used to identify circulating tumor cells for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer.